Human Dermal Decellularized ECM Hydrogels as Scaffolds for 3D In Vitro Skin Aging Models

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Dermatology

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro skin models are crucial for drug testing and tissue-specific research.
• Current commercial biomaterials (e.g., collagen, fibrin, alginate) lack the molecular complexity of native skin.
• Advanced models require novel biomaterials that better mimic tissue complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate aged human decellularized dermal extracellular matrix (dECM) hydrogels as scaffolds for advanced skin models.
• To assess the suitability of dECM hydrogels for creating more accurate in vitro skin aging models.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of aged human dECM hydrogels from cadaveric human skin.
• Characterization of dECM hydrogel structure, mechanical properties, and molecular composition.
• Embedding fibroblasts within dECM hydrogels and comparing their behavior to cells in commercial collagen hydrogels.

Main Results:

• dECM hydrogels successfully replicated the fibrillar structure and exhibited comparable mechanical properties to other scaffolds.
• dECM hydrogels preserved the molecular composition of native dermis.
• Fibroblasts in dECM hydrogels showed more natural behavior compared to collagen hydrogels, avoiding uncontrolled proliferation and shrinkage.

Conclusions:

• Human dECM hydrogels serve as effective scaffolds for dermal fibroblasts in advanced skin models.
• These dECM hydrogels are suitable for developing 3D skin aging-on-a-chip models, accurately representing the cellular microenvironment.
• dECM hydrogels offer an improved alternative to existing in vitro skin models, enhancing reliability in dermatopathological studies.