Adaptation of mesenchymal stromal cells to culture on collagen-based bioscaffold

Decellularized tissue scaffolds may provide a substrate for cell delivery, yet their impact on stem cell function remains unclear. We evaluated a decellularized pericardium bioscaffold (CardioCel^®) as a platform for mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), testing whether it maintains multipotency without enforcing lineage commitment. Human adipose- and bone marrow-derived MSC adhered, proliferated, and differentiated under appropriate stimuli when cultured on the scaffold. Transcriptome analysis showed most genes retained their expression levels, with only 57 differentially expressed, mainly in pathways related to adhesion, oxygen response, and endogenous stimuli. Genes encoding regenerative paracrine factors were preserved, indicating that the scaffold provides a supportive but non-directive environment. These findings suggest MSC assays can serve as a screening approach to predict scaffold compatibility with endogenous progenitor cells, supporting the broader application of pericardium scaffolds in regenerative medicine.