Electrospun decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds promote the regeneration of injured neurons

• Published in: Biomaterials and biosystems 2023-09, Vol.11, p.100081-100081, Article 100081
• Main Authors: Mungenast, Lena, Nieminen, Ronya, Gaiser, Carine, Faia-Torres, Ana Bela, Rühe, Jürgen, Suter-Dick, Laura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Decellularized scaffolds; Electrospinning; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix: the driving force in modern biomaterials; Neural cell guiding; Neuronal migration
• ISSN: 2666-5344; 2666-5344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbiosy.2023.100081

•Isolation and formulation of porcine spinal cord-derived ECM spinning solution.•Production of highly directional ECM fiber scaffolds by integrating electrospinning into 3D bioprinter.•Adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of neural cells into mature neurons supported by ECM fiber scaffolds.•Enhanced migration of mature neurons on aligned ECM fiber scaffolds after lesion underlining superior cell guiding capacities of ECM by combination of biochemical and topographical cues. Traumatic injury to the spinal cord (SCI) causes the transection of neurons, formation of a lesion cavity, and remodeling of the microenvironment by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and scar formation leading to a regeneration-prohibiting environment. Electrospun fiber scaffolds have been shown to simulate the ECM and increase neural alignment and neurite outgrowth contributing to a growth-permissive matrix. In this work, electrospun ECM-like fibers providing biochemical and topological cues are implemented into a scaffold to represent an oriented biomaterial suitable for the alignment and migration of neural cells in order to improve spinal cord regeneration. The successfully decellularized spinal cord ECM (dECM), with no visible cell nuclei and dsDNA content