Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells synergize with biomimetic collagen scaffolds to drive structural...

The regeneration of functional cervical tissue for congenital or acquired defects remains an unmet clinical challenge. While decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds offer structural support, their regenerative capacity is inherently limited for critical-sized, full-thickness cervical defects. Here, we developed a composite graft by seeding human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) onto a biomimetic, bilayer collagen scaffold (CS). In a rabbit model of complete ectocervical excision, both the CS and UC-MSCs/CS construct promoted organized, full-thickness regeneration of epithelium, vascularized stroma, and smooth muscle layers. The regenerated cervix exhibited physiological hormone receptor expression and mucus production. Notably, compared with the scaffold alone, the composite yielded a smaller cervical diameter and denser morphology, and improved biomechanical strength over six months. These results demonstrate that UC-MSCs synergize with a decellularized collagen scaffold to support structural cervical regeneration, offering a clinically translatable, "off-the-shelf" strategy for reconstructing severe cervical defects.