Decellularized Human Skeletal Muscle as Biologic Scaffold for Reconstructive Surgery

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Andrea Porzionato³  Maria Martina Sfriso³  Alex Pontini²  Veronica Macchi³  Lucia Petrelli³  Piero G. Pavan¹  Arturo N. Natali¹  Franco Bassetto²  Vincenzo Vindigni²  Raffaele De Caro³ 

[1] Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via G. Marzolo 9, Padova 35131, Italy; E-Mails:;Clinic of Plastic Surgery, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, Padova 35127, Italy; E-Mails:;Section of Human Anatomy, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 65, Padova 35127, Italy; E-Mails:

关键词: skeletal muscle;    scaffold;    decellularization;    regenerative medicine;    human;    reconstructive surgery;    extracellular matrix;    stem cells;    tissue engineering;    scanning electron microscopy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms160714808

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Engineered skeletal muscle tissues have been proposed as potential solutions for volumetric muscle losses, and biologic scaffolds have been obtained by decellularization of animal skeletal muscles. The aim of the present work was to analyse the characteristics of a biologic scaffold obtained by decellularization of human skeletal muscles (also through comparison with rats and rabbits) and to evaluate its integration capability in a rabbit model with an abdominal wall defect. Rat, rabbit and human muscle samples were alternatively decellularized with two protocols: n.1, involving sodium deoxycholate and DNase I; n.2, trypsin-EDTA and Triton X-NH₄OH. Protocol 2 proved more effective, removing all cellular material and maintaining the three-dimensional networks of collagen and elastic fibers. Ultrastructural analyses with transmission and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the preservation of collagen, elastic fibres, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Implantation of human scaffolds in rabbits gave good results in terms of integration, although recellularization by muscle cells was not completely achieved. In conclusion, human skeletal muscles may be effectively decellularized to obtain scaffolds preserving the architecture of the extracellular matrix and showing mechanical properties suitable for implantation/integration. Further analyses will be necessary to verify the suitability of these scaffolds for in vitro recolonization by autologous cells before in vivo implantation.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.