Recent advances in tissue engineering using decellularized organ scaffolds have expanded the possibilities for organ replacement therapy. However, detergent-based decellularization itself damages the extracellular matrix (ECM), which results in failure associated with the transplanted bioengineered organ. This study determined that potassium laurate (PL), a natural detergent, significantly reduces lung ECM damage during the decellularization process compared with protocols using sodium dodecyl sulfate. PL-decellularized lungs showed better microarchitecture preservation and low biological reactions after subcutaneous implantation. PL-decellularized scaffolds supported rat lung endothelial cell attachment/proliferation and the bioengineered lungs significantly reduced lung congestion after transplantation.
Keywords: decellularization; lung bioengineering; lung transplantation; natural detergent; potassium laurate.