Electrospun Extracellular Matrix: Tailor-Made Natural Scaffold

A growing understanding of cell–matrix interactions has led to the development of cardiac scaffolds, that are designed to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) and consequently, to provide mechanical support to the heart and a supportive microenvironment for cells. Decellularized porcine cardiac extracellular matrix (pcECM) is becoming the ultimate bioactive material for cardiac regeneration. It has been studied as cardiac patches and injectable scaffolds, which improved cardiac function, yet –like most natural materials– lacked reproducibility and were difficult to fine-tune for desired properties. Seeking to harness the natural advantages of pcECM in a scalable and controllable scaffold, we developed a matrix that is produced from whole, decellularized pcECM solution by electrospinning (ES) technology. The solutions’ properties, including viscoelasticity and volatility, were altered through changing the solvents and the solubilizing methodology in pursuance of a spinnable solution. This novel technological capability has enabled producing scaffolds with diverse, controllable, and well-defined macrostructures, which are comprised solely of pcECM. The electrospun pcECM scaffold had preserved the complex collagenous composition of natural pcECM, it self-assembled into the same microstructure of cardiac ECM and preserved key cardiac mechanical properties. Furthermore, the scaffold`s cytocompatibility was demonstrated through its support of various cells` viability and proliferation. Moreover, when seeded with cardiac cells, it supported their contractile function and electrical coupling. Good biocompatibility of the scaffold was revealed in vitro and in vivo using a mouse model. Importantly, upon implantation to rats` heart, the scaffold fully integrated with the cardiac tissue. Altogether, this work reveals the potential of the electrospun ECM platform for cardiac therapy, but also paves the path for the production of tailor made structures from complex natural materials.