Cited by 3,591Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine3D Printing in Biomedical ResearchHydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications

An overview of tissue and whole organ decellularization processes

Open access
Crapo, Peter M., Gilbert, Thomas W., Badylak, Stephen F.·2011·Biomaterials

Abstract

Biologic scaffold materials composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) are typically derived by processes that involve decellularization of tissues or organs. Preservation of the complex composition and three-dimensional ultrastructure of the ECM is highly desirable but it is recognized that all methods of decellularization result in disruption of the architecture and potential loss of surface structure and composition. Physical methods and chemical and biologic agents are used in combination to lyse cells, followed by rinsing to remove cell remnants. Effective decellularization methodology is dictated by factors such as tissue density and organization, geometric and biologic properties desired for the end product, and the targeted clinical application. Tissue decellularization with preservation of ECM integrity and bioactivity can be optimized by making educated decisions regarding the agents and techniques utilized during processing. An overview of decellularization methods, their effect upon resulting ECM structure and composition, and recently described perfusion techniques for whole organ decellularization techniques are presented herein.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.01.057

Cites

127 of 127 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • For thinner tissues, the extent of cellular removal depends on the intensity of agitation or exposure to relatively mild detergent concentrations.

    “For thinner tissues, the extent of cellular removal depends on the intensity of agitation or exposure to relatively mild detergent concentrations [23].”

    From Effects of Various Decellularization Methods for the Development of Decellularized Extracellular Matrix from Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>) Viscera (2024) · cites this paper as [23]

    Section 4.4 (page unavailable) says that DNA removal from thin tissues depends on agitation speed. Section 4 (page unavailable) describes brief exposure of thin tissues to easily removed detergents or acids, but does not say that cellular removal depends on exposure to relatively mild detergent concentrations. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • All decellularization methods yielded DNA content below the acceptable residual threshold of 0.05 μg/mg.

    “with all methods revealing DNA content below the acceptable residual threshold of 0.05 µg/mg [23].”

    From Effects of Various Decellularization Methods for the Development of Decellularized Extracellular Matrix from Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>) Viscera (2024) · cites this paper as [23]

    Section 6 (page unavailable) proposes less than 50 ng dsDNA per mg of dry ECM—equivalent to 0.05 µg/mg—as a minimal criterion for decellularization. It does not report that all methods met this criterion. Section 3.1 (page unavailable) instead describes DNA removal as varying by method and tissue. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Hypertonic and hypotonic solutions induce cell lysis, dehydration, and apoptosis, thereby removing cellular content.

    “Hypertonic and hypotonic solutions are employed in the fabrication of decellularized scaffolds for their osmotic effects, which induce cell lysis, dehydration, and apoptosis, thereby removing cellular content.”

    From Bioactive scaffolds for tissue engineering: A review of decellularized extracellular matrix applications and innovations (2025) · cites this paper as [29]

    Section 3.1.2 says hypotonic solutions cause cell lysis through osmotic effects and that alternating hypertonic and hypotonic solutions helps rinse cell residue from tissue. It does not attribute dehydration or apoptosis to these solutions; section 3.1.4 instead attributes cellular dehydration to alcohols. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Nucleases, including DNase, hydrolyze nucleotide bonds, thereby fragmenting DNA and RNA following cell lysis.

    “Nucleases, including DNase, hydrolyze nucleotide bonds, thereby fragmenting DNA and RNA following cell lysis.”

    From Bioactive scaffolds for tissue engineering: A review of decellularized extracellular matrix applications and innovations (2025) · cites this paper as [29]

    Section 3.2.1 (Enzymes; page unavailable) says DNases and RNases cleave nucleic acid sequences after cell lysis and that endonucleases fragment DNA. It does not specify that this cleavage occurs by hydrolysis of nucleotide bonds, so that mechanistic detail is unsupported by our copy. (LLM, conf=0.81)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Decellularized tissues may experience a lower rejection rate if they are completely depleted of the different sources of immunogens.

    “Overall, decellularized tissues may experience a lower rejection rate if they are completely depleted of the different sources of immunogens [7,59].”

    From Liver tissue engineering using decellularized scaffolds: Current progress, challenges, and opportunities (2024) · cites this paper as [7]

    Section 6, “Evaluation of decellularized ECM” (page unavailable), says residual cellular material may contribute to adverse host responses, supporting the general rationale for removing immunogenic material. It also says decellularization cannot remove 100% of cell material; the paper does not establish a lower rejection rate for tissues completely depleted of all immunogens. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Crapo, P. M., Gilbert, T. W., & Badylak, S. F.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Badylak, Stephen F.
Venue
Biomaterials
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-04
Volume
32
Issue
12
Pages
3233-3243
ISSN
0142-9612 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2059486645
Cited by
3,591
References
127
Citations by year
2026: 246 · 2025: 275 · 2024: 309 · 2023: 308 · 2022: 297 · 2021: 363 · 2020: 301 · 2019: 269 · 2018: 240 · 2017: 265 · 2016: 185 · 2015: 202 · 2014: 145 · 2013: 85 · 2012: 74
FWCI
18.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biomaterials (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AR053603)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications
Keywords
decellularization, extracellular matrix, biological scaffolds, perfusion decellularization, cell elimination, tissue engineering
MeSH terms
Animals, Extracellular Matrix, Organ Specificity, Sterilization, Tissue Engineering, Tissue Scaffolds

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