Comparative mechanical analysis of collagen membranes derived from different tissues in an in vitro model simulating membrane-stabilized horizontal GBR

This study evaluates and compares the mechanical behavior of two collagen membranes in an in vitro model simulating membrane-stabilized horizontal guided bone regeneration (GBR). Megreen ® (bovine pericardium, BP) and Bio-Gide ® (porcine dermis, PD) were tested under wet conditions. Two models were developed: (1) a balloon dilation test to assess the membrane’s capability to accommodate bone graft material and (2) a bone graft compression model to evaluate tear resistance during graft compaction. In the tensile testing, BP demonstrated a significantly superior modulus of elasticity (146.71 ± 45.08 vs. 6.08 ± 2.66 MPa), maximum load tolerance (30.71 ± 8.42 vs. 4.49 ± 1.36 N), and tensile stress at maximum load (14.62 ± 4.01 vs. 1.61 ± 0.49 MPa; p < 0.001). Conversely, PD achieved high tensile extension at maximum load (6.32 ± 1.93 vs. 1.64 ± 0.32 mm) and percent tensile strain at maximum load (52.69 ± 16.03 vs. 13.63 ± 2.65%; p < 0.001). In the balloon dilation test, PD presented a slightly greater expansion diameter (4.43 ± 0.17 vs. 4.34 ± 0.05 mm; p = 0.047). In the compression model, BP significantly outperformed PD in maximum load (40.86 ± 4.54 vs. 7.90 (7.72–10.92) N) and displacement at maximum load (5.61 ± 0.60 vs. 3.65 ± 0.82 mm; p < 0.001). BP exhibited higher tensile strength and compression resistance, whereas PD showed greater deformability. These findings indicate distinct mechanical differences between the two collagen membranes under the tested conditions and may provide a mechanical basis for membrane selection in membrane-stabilized horizontal GBR.