Decellularized extracellular matrix: New promising and challenging biomaterials for regenerative medicine

Extracellular matrix is rich in biomolecules including structural proteins, glycosaminoglycans, and small mole-cules that are important for the maintenance and repair of tissue. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is expected to retain these key biomolecules and makes it a promising biomaterial candidate for regenerative medicine applications. To date, dECM-particle based biomaterials have been developed to engineer over 15 tissue types or organs, with the ultimate goal of mimicking specific biological and physical properties of the native tissue. The most common scaffold types are injectable hydrogels, electrospun scaffolds and bioprinted scaffolds. The purpose of this review paper is to highlight key challenges, fabrication methods and progress made for each tissue type, along with the discussion of other elements that are integral to push dECM biomaterials towards effective and specialized tissue repair.

Automated summary

Extracellular matrix is a promising biomaterial candidate for regenerative medicine applications due to its rich biomolecules. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) has been developed in various forms, such as injectable hydrogels, electrospun scaffolds, and bioprinted scaffolds, to engineer different tissue types. This review paper highlights the challenges, fabrication methods, and progress made for each tissue type, aiming to push dECM biomaterials towards effective and specialized tissue repair.