Method of preparing and processing transplant tissue

A method for treating and processing tissue for implantation that decellularizes and inactivates virus in said tissue comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting said tissue with a viral inactivating agent, wherein said viral inactivating agent comprises benzalkonium chloride;
• and
• b) contacting said tissue with a decellularizing agent;
• whereby said tissue maintains structural integrity and activity of growth factors in said tissue is maintained.

A method for treating tissue effecting the decellularizing and inactivating viruses in said tissue comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting said tissue with a solution comprising about 0.5 percent or more, by weight, benzalkonium chloride;
• b) contacting said tissue with a solution comprising about 0.5 percent or more, by weight, tween 20 and about 0.5 percent or more, by weight, hydrogen peroxide;
• and
• c) contacting said tissue with a calcium hydroxide solution.

A method for decellularizing and inactivating viruses in dermis tissue comprising the steps of:

• a) obtaining a sample of crude dermis tissue;
• b) treating said crude dermis tissue with sodium chloride;
• c) separating epidermis from dermis of said crude dermis tissue by manual debridement to produce dermis sample;
• d) contacting said dermis sample with a solution comprising 0.5 percent or more, by weight, benzalkonium chloride;
• e) contacting said dermis sample with a solution comprising 0.5 percent or more, by weight, tween 20 and 0.5 percent or more hydrogen peroxide;
• optionally further comprising simultaneous sonication of said dermis sample;
• f) contacting said dermis with a solution of saturated calcium hydroxide;
• and subsequent rinsing of said dermis sample followed by chelating of said dermis sample by contact with a chelating agent;
• and optionally further comprising sonicating said dermis sample during contact with said saturated calcium hydroxide;
• g) neutralizing pH of said dermis sample with a neutralizing buffer, followed by rinsing said dermis sample
• h) drying said dermis sample with an alcohol solution comprising about 50 to about 100 percent, by weight, alcohol;
• i) lyophilizing said dermis sample;
• j) cutting said dermis sample;
• and
• k) irradiating said dermis sample.