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Composite Bioscaffolds Incorporating Decellularized ECM as a Cell-Instructive Component Within Hydrogels as In Vitro Models and Cell Delivery Systems

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Decellularized Scaffolds and Organogenesis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1577))

Abstract

Decellularized tissues represent promising biomaterials, which harness the innate capacity of the tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) to direct cell functions including stem cell proliferation and lineage-specific differentiation. However, bioscaffolds derived exclusively from decellularized ECM offer limited versatility in terms of tuning biomechanical properties, as well as cell–cell and cell–ECM interactions that are important mediators of the cellular response. As an alternative approach, in the current chapter we describe methods for incorporating cryo-milled decellularized tissues as a cell-instructive component within a hydrogel carrier designed to crosslink under mild conditions. This composite strategy can enable in situ cell encapsulation with high cell viability, allowing efficient seeding with a homogeneous distribution of cells and ECM. Detailed protocols are provided for the effective decellularization of human adipose tissue and porcine auricular cartilage, as well as the cryo-milling process used to generate the ECM particles. Further, we describe methods for synthesizing methacrylated chondroitin sulphate (MCS) and for performing UV-initiated and thermally induced crosslinking to form hydrogel carriers for adipose and cartilage regeneration. The hydrogel composites offer great flexibility, and the hydrogel phase, ECM source, particle size, cell type(s) and seeding density can be tuned to promote the desired cellular response. Overall, these systems represent promising platforms for the development of tissue-specific 3-D in vitro cell culture models and in vivo cell delivery systems.

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Acknowledgements

Scholarship funding to support this work was provided by the NSERC CREATE CONNECT! Program and Western’s Collaborative Graduate Training Program in Musculoskeletal Health Research (CMHR). Operational grant funding support was provided by NSERC. The authors would like to thank Cody Brown for technical assistance with the SEM imaging and the Western Nanofabrication facility for access to their imaging equipment. Finally, we would like to acknowledge Drs. Aaron Grant, Brian Evans and Robert Richards for their clinical collaborations in providing human adipose tissue samples, as well as the Mount Brydges abattoir for providing the porcine auricular cartilage tissue.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, Thompson Engineering Building, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5B9

    Arthi Shridhar, Elizabeth Gillies & Lauren E. Flynn

  2. Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5B7

    Elizabeth Gillies

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University, 19 Division Street, Kingston, ON, Canada, K7L 3N6

    Brian G. Amsden

  4. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5C1

    Lauren E. Flynn

Authors
  1. Arthi Shridhar
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  2. Elizabeth Gillies
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  3. Brian G. Amsden
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  4. Lauren E. Flynn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lauren E. Flynn .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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Shridhar, A., Gillies, E., Amsden, B.G., Flynn, L.E. (2017). Composite Bioscaffolds Incorporating Decellularized ECM as a Cell-Instructive Component Within Hydrogels as In Vitro Models and Cell Delivery Systems. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Decellularized Scaffolds and Organogenesis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1577. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2017_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2017_36

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7655-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7656-0

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