Injectable extracellular matrix hydrogels contribute to native cell infiltration in a rat partial nephrectomy model

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) hydrogels offer cytocompatibility and are explored for soft tissue regeneration.
• dECM hydrogels show potential for complex organs and various tissue injury models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the practical application of kidney-derived dECM hydrogels in a rat partial nephrectomy model.
• To assess the dECM hydrogel's potential as a scaffold for kidney tissue reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of kidney-derived dECM hydrogel with adjustable viscosity and kidney-like elastic modulus.
• In vitro assessment of renal epithelial and vascular endothelial cell migration within dECM hydrogels.
• In vivo injection of dECM hydrogel into a rat partial nephrectomy model.

Main Results:

• The dECM hydrogel exhibited suitable viscosity for retention and matched kidney tissue's elastic modulus post-gelation.
• In vitro studies confirmed renal and endothelial cell migration within the dECM hydrogel.
• Four weeks post-injection, significant infiltration of renal tubular cells and native cells, along with angiogenesis, was observed in the kidney defect area.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to demonstrate the successful application of dECM hydrogels in the kidney.
• Kidney-derived dECM hydrogels can serve as effective scaffolds to induce angiogenesis and infiltration of organ-specific cells.
• These findings provide foundational insights for advancing dECM hydrogel applications in complex organ repair.