Decellularized extracellular matrix gelloids support mesenchymal stem cell growth and function in vitro.

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Science
• Skeletal Muscle Biology

Background:

• Volumetric muscle loss (VML) injuries result in significant functional impairment due to loss of regenerative elements, inflammation, and fibrosis.
• Current stem cell and biomaterial therapies show limited success in regenerating skeletal muscle for VML.
• The extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment is critical for stem cell viability and function, making decellularized ECM (D-ECM) scaffolds a promising therapeutic strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize novel spherical scaffolds (gelloids) using gelatin and skeletal muscle D-ECM for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) delivery.
• To evaluate the ability of these gelloids to support MSC survival, expansion, and function in vitro for VML treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of spherical scaffolds (gelloids) from gelatin and skeletal muscle D-ECM.
• In vitro assessment of MSC adhesion, survival, proliferation, trophic factor secretion, immunomodulatory effects, and myogenic protein expression within the gelloids.

Main Results:

• The fabricated gelloids effectively supported MSC adhesion, survival, and expansion.
• MSCs cultured within the gelloids demonstrated enhanced trophic factor secretion and immunomodulatory properties.
• Gelloids promoted myogenic protein expression in MSCs, indicating potential for muscle regeneration.

Conclusions:

• Spherical D-ECM/gelatin gelloids provide a supportive microenvironment for MSCs, improving their viability and function in vitro.
• This gelloid-based MSC delivery system shows potential as a therapeutic strategy for volumetric muscle loss injuries.
• Further in vivo studies are warranted to determine the therapeutic efficacy in a murine model of VML.