Native and solubilized decellularized extracellular matrix: a critical assessment of their potential for improving the expansion of mesenchymal stem cells

Publication date: Available online 12 April 2017
Source:Acta Biomaterialia
Author(s): Aida Shakouri-Motlagh, Andrea J. O'Connor, Shaun P. Brennecke, Bill Kalionis, Daniel E. Heath
Capturing the promise of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based treatments is currently limited by inefficient production of cells needed for clinical therapies. During conventional ex vivo expansion, a large portion of MSCs lose the properties that make them attractive for use in cell therapies. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) has recently emerged as a promising substrate for the improved expansion of MSCs. MSCs cultured on these surfaces exhibit improved proliferation capacity, maintenance of phenotype, and increased differentiation potential. Additionally, these dECMs can be solubilized and used to coat new cell culture surfaces, imparting key biological properties of the native matrices to other surfaces such as tissue engineering scaffolds. Although this technology is still developing, there is potential for an impact in the fields of MSC biology, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and therapeutics. In this article, we review the role of dECM in MSC expansion by first detailing the decellularization methods that have been used to produce the dECM substrates; discussing the shortcomings of current decellularization methods; describing the improved MSC characteristics obtained when the cells are cultured on these surfaces; and considering the effect of the passage number, age of donor, and dECM preparation method on the quality of the dECM. Finally we describe the critical roadblocks that must be addressed before this technology can fulfil its potential, including elucidating the mechanism by which the dECMs improve the expansion of primary MSCs and the identification of a readily available source of dECM.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2oAngbL