Decellularized extracellular matrices (dECMs) from mammalian tissues and organs are particularly interesting as scaffolds for tissue engineering and regeneration when considering their ability to retain chemical compositions and three-dimensional (3D) microstructures that are similar to native ECMs. This review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different decellularization methods that use various agents, such as ionic and nonionic detergents and biological enzymes. The applications of dECMs as scaffolds or hydrogels for tissue engineering of specific tissues including heart valves, blood vessels, and skin, as well as their performance in vitro and in vivo, are also discussed. In addition, whole organ regeneration (i.e., the heart, kidney, liver) using dECM scaffolds has been explored, which are able to recapitulate partial functions of native organs.
Keywords: Decellularization; Extracellular matrices; Microstructure; Organ regeneration; Recellularization; Tissue engineering.