Comparable Decellularization of Fetal and Adult Cardiac Tissue Explants as 3D-like Platforms for In Vitro StudiesAna C. Silva 1,2,3,4, Maria J. Oliveira 1,2,5, Todd C McDevitt 4,6, Mário A. Barbosa 1,2,3, Diana S. Nascimento 1,2, Perpétua Pinto-do-Ó 1,2,3
1i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 2INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 3Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, 5Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 6University of California San Francisco
The cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of molecules that orchestrate key processes in tissues and organs while enduring physiological remodeling throughout life. Standardized decellularization of fetal and adult hearts permits comparative experimental studies of both tissues in a 3D context by capturing native architecture and biomechanical properties.