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Bioactive Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Derived from 3D Stem Cell Spheroids under Macromolecular Crowding
Cheng-En Chiang1, Yi-Qiao Fang1, Chao-Ting Ho1
1Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|April 23, 2021
Summary
This study developed 3D decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) scaffolds using macromolecular crowding (MMC) to enhance tissue regeneration. These advanced dECM scaffolds promote blood vessel formation and are ideal for building larger engineered tissues.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Tissue engineering scaffolds aim to replicate the native extracellular matrix (ECM) for cell support and signaling.
- Current biomaterials often oversimplify ECM structure, limiting their efficacy in stimulating tissue regeneration.
- Developing advanced scaffolds that mimic native ECM complexity is crucial for effective tissue repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel 3D decellularized ECM (dECM) scaffolds using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) spheroids.
- To investigate the impact of macromolecular crowding (MMC) on ECM assembly and bioactivity.
- To evaluate the potential of these dECM scaffolds as proangiogenic building blocks for engineered tissues.
Main Methods:
- Culturing MSC spheroids under macromolecular crowding (MMC) conditions to promote ECM assembly.
- Decellularizing the 3D ECM constructs to create dECM scaffolds.
- Characterizing scaffold microarchitecture, growth factor retention, and proangiogenic bioactivity.
- Seeding dECM scaffolds with endothelial cells and evaluating in vivo revascularization.
Main Results:
- MMC facilitated 3D ECM assembly, resulting in intricate matrix composition and higher growth factor retention.
- dECM scaffolds produced under MMC exhibited enhanced proangiogenic bioactivity compared to uncrowded conditions.
- Scaffolds supported homogeneous endothelial cell population and macroassembly into larger constructs.
- In vivo application of empty scaffolds promoted intrinsic revascularization.
Conclusions:
- 3D dECM scaffolds derived from MSC spheroids under MMC effectively mimic native ECM properties.
- These scaffolds possess superior proangiogenic potential, promoting vascularization for tissue regeneration.
- The developed dECM scaffolds serve as optimal bioactive blocks for constructing larger, functional engineered tissue constructs.
