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Engineered models for placental toxicology: Emerging approaches based on tissue decellularization.
Prabu Karthick Parameshwar1, Lucas Sagrillo-Fagundes2, Nathalia Azevedo Portilho3
1Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)
|July 15, 2022
Summary
Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) offers a promising approach to recreate placental microenvironments for toxicology studies. This tissue engineering strategy enhances understanding of drug and contaminant risks during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Toxicology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Increasing drug use and environmental exposures during pregnancy necessitate better methods for placental toxicology.
- Current in vitro models lack the microenvironmental complexity to accurately assess placental responses.
- Tissue engineering offers solutions to replicate the placental microenvironment for improved research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) in tissue engineering for placental toxicology.
- To explore how dECM can recreate critical microenvironmental factors for in vitro models.
- To highlight the potential of dECM-based strategies in understanding pregnancy risks.
Main Methods:
- Review of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) applications in tissue engineering.
- Focus on modified dECM forms: scaffolds, hydrogels, 3D printing, and composite structures.
- Analysis of dECM's role in mimicking placental microenvironment components.
Main Results:
- Decellularized ECM (dECM) can be modified into various formats (scaffolds, hydrogels, 3D printed constructs) to mimic the placental microenvironment.
- These dECM-based constructs offer a more physiologically relevant platform compared to traditional in vitro models.
- dECM preserves crucial microenvironmental cues, including biochemical and biophysical properties.
Conclusions:
- Decellularized ECM (dECM) is a valuable tool for developing advanced tissue-engineered models for placental toxicology.
- These models can improve the assessment of risks associated with maternal drug use and environmental contaminants.
- Further development of dECM-based strategies holds significant potential for maternal-fetal health research.
