Gel form of ECM-scaffold prepared from bovine Nucleus Pulposus.

Decellularized tissues composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) and used as biologic scaffolds, have been shown to be useful for the repair of a variety of tissues. The clinical utility of such scaffolds for the tissue engineering of Nucleus Pulposus (NP) might be large but limited by the surgical procedure necessary to implant the engineered tissue. An injectable gel form of the ECM could potentially conform the required three-dimensional shape and could be delivered to site of interest by minimally invasive techniques. The goal of this project is to design a gel form of ECM scaffold, prepared from decellularized bovine NP that has been powdered. The work will include the evaluation of the gel to support in vitro growth of bovine NP-cells and the rheological characterization of its properties.