Effect of Porcine-Derived Collagen Membrane Crosslinking on Intraoral Soft Tissue Augmentation: A Canine Model

Peri-implant disease and gingival recession may be partially attributed to inadequate keratinized tissue. Soft tissue augmentation procedures utilizing non-autologous biomaterials, such as porcine-derived collagen membranes, have been gaining prominence and exogenous crosslinking is being actively investigated to improve the collagen membrane's stability and potential for keratinized tissue gain. The aim of this preclinical study was to evaluate the performance of a novel, crosslinked porcine collagen membrane (Zderm^TM, Osteogenics Biomedical, Lubbock, TX, USA) relative to an established, commercially available, non-crosslinked counterpart (Mucograft^®, Geistlich Pharma North America Inc., Princeton, NJ, USA) in a canine mandibular model. Bilateral split-thickness mucosal defects were created in adult beagles (<i>n</i> = 17), with each site receiving one membrane. Qualitative and quantitative histomorphometric analyses of groups were performed after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of healing and compared to unoperated, positive controls from the same subject. No significant differences in membrane presence were observed between Zderm^TM and Mucograft^® at 4, 8, and 12 weeks of permitted healing (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Similarly, the average keratinized tissue (KT) length between Zderm^TM and Mucograft^® groups was statistically equivalent across all healing times (<i>p</i> > 0.05). However, qualitative histological evaluation revealed greater rete ridge morphology amongst defects treated with Zderm^TM in comparison to Mucograft^®. Nevertheless, both membranes exhibited excellent biocompatibility and are well-suited for soft tissue augmentation procedures in the oral cavity.