Porcine extracellular matrix (pECM)-derived hydrogels were introduced, in recent years, aiming to benefit the pECM’s microstructure and bioactivity, while controlling the biomaterial’s physical and mechanical properties. The use of pECM from different tissues, however, offers tissue-specific features that can better serve different applications. In this study, pECM hydrogels derived from cardiac, artery, pancreas, and adipose tissues were compared in terms of composition, structure, and mechanical properties. While major similarities were demonstrated between all the pECM hydrogels, their distinctive attributes were also identified, and their substantial effects on cell-ECM interactions were revealed. Furthermore, through comprehensive protein and gene expression analyses, we show, for the first time, that each pECM hydrogel supports the spontaneous differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells towards the resident cells of its origin tissue. These findings imply that the origin of ECM should be carefully considered when designing a biomedical platform, to achieve a maximal bioactive impact.
The current unmet clinical need for post-myocardial infarction (MI) treatments has driven the development of diverse scaffolds for regenerating the infarcted area, based on natural and synthetic polymers. Decellularized porcine cardiac extracellular matrix (pcECM) has emerged as a promising biomaterial for cardiac regeneration, due to its unique bioactivity and microstructure that mimic the natural tissue. We have previously reported the development of an electrospun pcECM cardiac scaffold that was shown to preserve the mechanical, structural, and biological properties of cardiac ECM while allowing a controllable reproducible production. In the present work, however, we reveal the potential of this unique scaffold as a possible treatment post-MI. Two types of electrospun pcECM scaffolds, varying in thickness, were applied to rat hearts, 4 weeks following MI induction, thus allowing cardiac deterioration and a scar tissue formation before treatment (chronic model). Our results show moderated remodeling, decreased scar, and reduced wall thinning accompanied by a partial functional recovery in the hearts of both treatment groups when compared to the control.
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