Low-temperature 3D-printed Aloe vera/fish-derived decellularized ECM biocomposites for wound dressing application: fabrication, characterization, and in vitro evaluation

The development of effective wound dressings requires biomaterial platforms with structural integrity, biocompatibility, and multifunctional bioactivity. This study engineered composite hydrogels by blending tilapia skin-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (TSdECM) with Aloe vera (AV) at 0,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Seong Hyun Lee, Soyoung Noh, Seung Pil Pack, GeunHyung Kim, Hyeongjin Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525009761
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Summary:The development of effective wound dressings requires biomaterial platforms with structural integrity, biocompatibility, and multifunctional bioactivity. This study engineered composite hydrogels by blending tilapia skin-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (TSdECM) with Aloe vera (AV) at 0, 5, and 10  mg/mL for wound healing. TSdECM/AV-10 exhibited the highest porosity, water absorption, and swelling capacity, while retaining moderate degradability. Rheological analysis confirmed shear-thinning behavior and tunable storage modulus, with AV reducing viscosity. Low-temperature extrusion-based 3D printing at −20 °C yielded scaffolds with high shape fidelity. The constructs supported robust fibroblast viability and enhanced proliferation, endothelial tube formation, and epidermal differentiation. Air-liquid interface co-culture revealed upregulated cytokeratin 10 and 14, indicative of improved stratification. Macrophage polarization assays showed elevated M2 markers, reduced pro-inflammatory genes, and strong immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, TSdECM/AV-10 scaffolds exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and promoted rapid blood clot formation. Overall, these findings highlight TSdECM/AV scaffolds as versatile, bioactive platforms that integrate mechanical resilience with pro-regenerative, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial functions, offering strong translational potential for advanced skin tissue engineering.
ISSN:0264-1275