By Anthony Catalano

The Extracellular Matrix (ECM)Provides support to

tissueComposed of fibers:

Collagen and ElastinMade up of cells

called FibroblastsFound in

intercellular cavities

Discovery of ECM as a “Bioscaffold”

1989- Dr. Stephen Badylak performed Aortic surgery (Cardiomyoplasty) on a canine

Replaced canine’s Aorta with a segment of the canine’s small intestine

Canine survived surgery and lived for another 8 years

Dr. Stephen Badylak

Further investigation of the ECMDr. Stephen Badylak

determined it was the ECM that was the root cause of the successful surgery

Experimented on Xenogeneic ECM extracted from a pig bladder

Removed all cells from ECM

Performed same surgery with decellularized ECM

Physiology of Dr. Badylak’s DiscoveryThe ECM contains cells

called fibroblastsWhen tissue becomes

damaged, fibroblasts secrete excess collagen to damaged site

The ECM scaffold prevents inflammation and excess collagen by promoting the secretion of growth factors

The growth factors prevent the immune system from secreting excess collagen and instead stimulates the body to repair tissue

Types of ECM scaffolding Today1.)Hydrated sheet ECM

3.)ECM Gel(10ml-$175.88- Gibco®)

2.)Lyophilized powdered ECM(15mg-$400.00-CellAdhere™ )

Advantages and Disadvantages of ECM scaffoldingPROSBiocompatibilityNo immune (post-

surgery) drugs required

Regain of tissue function

Regeneration of tissue without use of controversial harvesting of stem cells

CONS

Dependant on percentage of lost or damaged tissue (%25-80% max)

External Scarring Recovery Rate (1-2

months)

Current Use of ECM scaffoldsFDA approved for

clinical use in 1999Dr. Stephen Badylak is

working with wounded veterans to replace lost muscle tissue

80 patient study, 5 patients treated, all successful in regaining muscle function

Average of 12-15% regain in muscle mass

Marine Sgt. Ron Strang

Corporal Isaias Hernandez

Future of ECM ScaffoldingUse for hospitals and

the militaryPortable regenerative

medicine for use at home (Band-Aids)

Rebuilding limbs or other artificial body parts*

Quicker recovery rateLower Cost

References Badylak, Stephen, Dr. "The Extracellular Matrix as a Scaffold for Tissue

Reconstruction." CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (2002): Pgs:377-382 Web.

Piore, Adam. "Discover Magazine." The Healing Power from Within 7 July 2011: 68-88. Web. Valentin, J. E., J. S. Badylak, G. P. McCabe, and

S. F. Badylak. "Extracellular Matrix Bioscaffolds for Orthopaedic Applications. A Comparative Histologic Study." The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 88.12 (2006): 2673-686. Print.

"Extracellular Matrix." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extracellular_matrix>.

Badylak, S. "Xenogeneic Extracellular Matrix as a Scaffold for Tissue Reconstruction.“ Transplant Immunology 12.3-4 (2004): 367-77. Print.

Sell, Scott A., Patricia S. Wolfe, Koyal Garg, Jennifer M. McCool, Isaac A. Rodriguez, and Gary L. Bowlin. "The Use of Natural Polymers in Tissue Engineering: A Focus on Electrospun Extracellular Matrix Analogues." Polymers 2.4 (2010): 522-53. Print.