Hydrogels from Wharton's jelly as alternative to conventional extracellular matrix-based constructs
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Extracellular matrix (ECM)-based hydrogels are increasingly used in regenerative medicine; however, animal-derived sources such as rat tail tendon ECM (RT-ECM)-the current gold standard-face limitations for clinical translation. We propose hydrogels derived from decellularized human Wharton's jelly (WJ-ECM) as a bioactive and sustainable alternative. Compared to RT-ECM, WJ-ECM hydrogels exhibit a distinct biochemical composition, combining type I/III collagen and glycosaminoglycans, and form thinner fibrils. Upon exposure to culture medium, they display reduced syneresis. Rheological and confined compression tests reveal lower stiffness and decreased permeability. Functionally, WJ-ECM hydrogels demonstrate superior hemostatic properties, reduce intracellular ROS accumulation in neutrophils, and promote an anti-inflammatory phenotype in macrophages. In vivo implantation confirms their biocompatibility with minimal adverse effects. These results highlight the potential of WJ-ECM hydrogels as a clinically relevant biomaterial for regenerative medicine and cell culture applications.
Institutions: Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire d'Étude des Microstructures et de Mécanique des Matériaux, Université de Lorraine, Institut Charles Sadron, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Physique de Rennes, Université Paris-Saclay, CentraleSupélec, Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés et Matériaux, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire MEDyC, Collège de France, Sorbonne Université, Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Medicine
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,390
OpenAlex ID: W4414160256