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Background

Extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds, obtained through detergent-based decellularization of native kidneys, represent the most promising platform for investigations aiming at manufacturing kidneys for transplant purposes. We previously showed that decellularization of the human kidney yields renal ECM scaffolds (hrECMs) that maintain their basic molecular components, are cytocompatible, stimulate angiogenesis, and show an intact innate vasculature. However, evidence that the decellularization preserves glomerular morphometric characteristics, physiological parameters (pressures and resistances of the vasculature bed), and biological properties of the renal ECM, including retention of important growth factors (GFs), is still missing.

Methods

To address these issues, we studied the morphometry and resilience of hrECMs’ native vasculature with resin casting at electronic microscopy and pulse-wave …