This gentle decellularization process uses an apoptotic drug that enhances production of acellular scaffolds for tissue regeneration and nerve repair. Available technologies for obtaining tissue-specific scaffolds require large volumes of expensive detergents and multiple, time-consuming steps. The use of harsh detergents leads to the broad dispersal of intracellular components, disruption of tissue morphology, and removal of desired tissue elements. Furthermore, incorporating time-consuming steps keeps operation costs at a premium. By using an FDA-approved, commercially available, and inexpensive drug, researchers at the University of Florida have significantly reduced the operational costs of scaffold generation and increased manufacturing simplicity. Using this process, UF researchers have been successful in demonstrating the effective removal of cellular components from both peripheral nerve and nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc and preserving the tissue architecture and morphology more accurately than available technologies.
Mild process for drug-induced removal of unwanted cellular components during biomimetic scaffold generation
An apoptotic agent provides for the improved decellularization of prospective tissue scaffolds. The apoptotic agent’s exposure to tissues induces widespread apoptosis by prompting cellular deterioration and degradation of intracellular components and allocation of these degraded components into small particles, known as apoptotic bodies. Following simple removal of these apoptotic bodies, the resulting tissue structure is able to be employed as a scaffold substrate for improved 3-dimensional cell culture and tissue engineering.
