Enhanced release of bone morphogenetic proteins from demineralized bone matrix by gamma irradiation

•Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) was gamma-irradiated for sterilization.•Irradiated DBM had higher alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin production.•It was reasoned the more released bone morphogenetic proteins by irradiation.•This result supports the application of radiation sterilization for bone implants.

Gamma irradiation is a useful method for sterilizing demineralized bone matrix (DBM), but its effect on the osteoinductivity of DBM is still controversial. In this study, the osteoinductive activity of gamma-irradiated DBM was examined using a mouse myoblastic cell line (C2C12). DBM was extracted from adult bovine bone and was irradiated at a dose of 25 kGy using a 60cobalt gamma-irradiator. Cell proliferation with DBM was not affected by gamma-irradiation, but alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin productions were significantly increased in C2C12 cell groups treated with gamma-irradiated DBM. It was reasoned that bone morphogenetic proteins were more efficiently released from gamma-irradiated DBM than from the non-irradiated control. This result suggests the effectiveness of radiation sterilization of bone implants