Extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels prepared by tissue decellularization have been reported as natural injectable materials suitable for neural tissue repair. In this study, we prepared ECM hydrogel derived from human umbilical cord (UC) and evaluated its composition and mechanical and biological properties in comparison with the previously described ECM hydrogels derived from porcine urinary bladder (UB), brain, and spinal cord. The ECM hydrogels did not differ from each other in the concentration of collagen, while the highest content of glycosaminoglycans as well as the shortest gelation time was found for UC-ECM. The elastic modulus was then found to be the highest for UB-ECM. In spite of a different origin, topography, and composition, all ECM hydrogels similarly promoted the migration of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and differentiation of neural stem cells, as well as axonal outgrowth in vitro. However, only UC-ECM significantly improved proliferation of tissue-specific UC-derived MSCs when compared with the other ECMs. Injection of UC-ECM hydrogels into a photothrombotic cortical ischemic lesion in rats proved its in vivo gelation and infiltration with host macrophages. In summary, this study proposes UC-ECM hydrogel as an easily accessible biomaterial of human origin, which has the potential for neural as well as other soft tissue reconstruction.
Keywords: extracellular matrix; hydrogel; mesenchymal stromal cells; neural tissue; regeneration; umbilical cord.