Effect of Dynamic Glutaraldehyde Crosslinking on the Biomechanics of Pericardium Xenograft Tissue

Bovine pericardium was fixed under dynamic conditions, low pressures (< 4mmHg) and low vibration rates (1.2 Hz) in a 0.5 % glutaraldehyde solution. After fixation, tensile testing (i.e. relaxation and stress-strain curves) was performed at low (3 mm/s) and high extension rates similar to physiological rates (30 mm/s i.e. 15 000% min⁻¹).