CHANGES IN THE FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE AFTER GAMMA IRRADIATION.

The effect of different doses of gamma radiation viz. 15, 20, 25 and 30 kGy on the chemical and functional characteristics of the amniotic membrane was studied. The change in the chemical structure of amniotic membranes at high doses of gamma irradiation was evaluated by means of Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy. The degradation of amnion on irradiation with gamma rays could produce a relative variation in IR absorption troughs. This kind of variation was absent in the samples irradiated to doses of 15, 20, 25 and 30 kGy indicating no qualitative change in the material property of amnion. No significant differences in the water absorption capacity and water vapour transmission rate of amniotic membranes irradiated to different doses were observed. The impact of irradiation doses on antibacterial effect of human amniotic membrane in vitro, showed the inhibitory effect of amniotic membrane on three standard bacterial strainsImpermeability of the amniotic membranes to different microorganisms was also not affected at high doses of gamma radiation. Gamma irradiation at doses of 15–30 kGy did not evoke undesirable changes in the functional properties of the amniotic membrane.