Ovarian extracellular matrix‐based hydrogel for human ovarian follicle survival in vivo: A pilot work

Chiti, Maria‐Costanza; Vanacker, Julie; Ouni, Emna; Tatic, Natalija; Viswanath, Aiswarya; des Rieux, Anne; Dolmans, Marie‐Madeleine; White, Lisa Jane; Amorim, Christiani Andrade

Abstract

To successfully assemble a bio-engineered ovary, we need to create a three-dimensional matrix able to accommodate isolated follicles and cells. The goal of this study was to develop an extracellular matrix hydrogel (oECM) derived from decellularized bovine ovaries able to support, in combination with alginate, human ovarian follicle survival and growth in vitro. Two different hydrogels (oECM1, oECM2) were produced and compared in terms of decellularization efficiency (dsDNA), ECM preservation (collagen and glycosaminoglycan levels), ultrastructure, rigidity, and cytotoxicity. oECM2 showed significantly less dsDNA, greater retention of glycosaminoglycans and better rigidity than oECM1. Isolated human ovarian follicles were then encapsulated in four selected hydrogel combinations: (1) 100% oECM2, (2) 90% oECM2 + 10% alginate, (3) 75% oECM2 + 25% alginate, and (4) 100% alginate. After 1 week of in vitro culture, follicle recovery rate, viability, and growth were analyzed. On day 7 of in vitro culture, follicle recovery rates were 0%, 23%, 65%, 82% in groups 1–4, respectively, rising proportionally with increased alginate content. However, there was no difference in follicle viability or growth between groups 2 and 3 and controls (group 4). In conclusion, since pure alginate cannot be used to graft preantral follicles due to its poor revascularization and degradation after grafting, oECM2 hydrogel combined with alginate may provide a new and promising alternative to graft isolated human follicles in a bio-engineered ovary.

Citation

Chiti, M., Vanacker, J., Ouni, E., Tatic, N., Viswanath, A., des Rieux, A., …Amorim, C. A. (2022). Ovarian extracellular matrix‐based hydrogel for human ovarian follicle survival in vivo: A pilot work. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, 110(5), 1012-1022. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.34974

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 13, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 26, 2021
• Publication Date: May 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Dec 6, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 8, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials
• Print ISSN: 1552-4973
• Electronic ISSN: 1552-4981
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 110
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1012-1022
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.34974
• Keywords: Biomedical Engineering; Biomaterials
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6909141
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbm.b.34974
• Additional Information: Received: 2021-05-04; Accepted: 2021-11-13; Published: 2021-11-26