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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Processing of Human Cardiac Tissue Toward Extracellular Matrix Self-assembling Hydrogel for In Vitro and In Vivo Applications
Published on: December 4, 2017
Extracellular matrix hydrogel therapies: In vivo applications and development
Martin T Spang1, Karen L Christman1
1Department of Bioengineering, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Abstract:
Decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) has been widely used for tissue engineering applications and is becoming increasingly versatile as it can take many forms, including patches, powders, and hydrogels. Following additional processing, decellularized ECM can form an inducible hydrogel that can be injected, providing for new minimally-invasive procedure opportunities. ECM hydrogels have been derived from numerous tissue sources and applied to treat many disease models, such as ischemic injuries and organ regeneration or replacement. This review will focus on in vivo applications of ECM hydrogels and functional outcomes in disease models, as well as discuss considerations for clinical translation.
Statement Of Significance:
Extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel therapies are being developed to treat diseased or damaged tissues and organs throughout the body. Many ECM hydrogels are progressing from in vitro models to in vivo biocompatibility studies and functional models. There is significant potential for clinical translation of these therapies since one ECM hydrogel therapy is already in a Phase 1 clinical trial.
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