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Characterization Of Tissue-Specific Matrix-Derived Bioscaffolds For Nucleus Pulposus Cell Culture, Marco A. Herrera Quijano

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Bioscaffolds derived from the extracellular matrix (ECM) have shown the capacity to promote regeneration by providing tissue-specific biological instructive cues that can enhance cell survival and direct lineage-specific differentiation. This study focused on the development and characterization of two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) cell culture platforms incorporating decellularized nucleus pulposus (DNP). First, a novel detergent-free protocol was developed for decellularizing bovine NP tissues that was effective at removing cellular content while preserving key ECM constituents including collagens and glycosaminoglycans. Culture studies showed that 2-D coatings derived from the DNP could support cell attachment but did not maintain or rescue the …