TABLE 1.

Summary of sterilisation methods and known adverse effects when used with biological materials.

Sterilisation method	Possible adverse effects
Heat (e.g., steam, dry heat)	Generally considered unsuitable for ECM-based scaffolds, due to exceeding the denaturation temperature of collagen (approximately 65°C) (Bozec and Odlyha, 2011)
Oxidising agents (e.g., PAA, hydrogen peroxide)	Denaturation/degradation of molecular ECM components, probably through oxidative reactions, with associated disruption to structural properties and capacity to support remodelling (Scheffler et al., 2008)
Alkylating agents (e.g., ethylene oxide)	Incomplete aeration can result in the deposition of residual ethylene oxide and by- products (e.g., ethylene chlorohydrin, ethylene glycol), linked to acute and chronic toxicities and the induction of an inflammatory response. Also linked to mechanical alterations (Lomas et al., 2001; Bernhardt et al., 2015)
Ionising radiation (e.g., gamma radiation, E Beam)	Dependent on conditions. Induces formation of cross-links if tissue is in a wet state, leading to increases in mechanical parameters such as stiffness or mechanical strength and preserves ECM architecture. If tissue is in a dry state, scission of the collagen chains predominates and causes degradation of the ECM and negatively affects mechanical properties (Cao et al., 2013)