Engineering an Injectable Scaffold with Enhanced ECM Mimicry for Cell Delivery and Tissue Regeneration.

ABSTRACT: The development of biomimetic scaffolds that emulate the extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for advancing cell-based therapies and tissue regeneration. This study reports the formulation of CHyCoGel, a novel injectable, ECM-mimetic hydrogel scaffold composed of chitosan, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, and an amphiphilic stabilizer. CHyCoGel addresses key limitations of existing scaffolds, offering improved structural uniformity, injectability, and in situ gelation suitable for cell encapsulation and minimally invasive delivery. Primary dermal fibroblasts (PDFs) isolated from neonatal rat skin were grafted into CHyCoGel, which supported high cell viability, well-organized cytoskeletal structures, and modulation of genes involved in tissue remodeling, including α-SMA, fibro

SUBMITTER: Kirwale SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12522103 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature