Organ Decellularization: A Physiological Matrix for Organ Regeneration in Vitro

Abstract

Chronic kidney disorders are one of the most common current diseases, accounting for a large charge on National Health Services worldwide. Since these disorders usually progress in end-stage organ failure, patients will require replacement therapies such as transplantation. At the same time, the number of organ donors is inadequate and the risk of reject remains high. To overcome these problems, researchers are focusing on the development of new strategies for organ replacement. Among the solutions that are being tested, decellularization protocols of various organs are probably the most appealing ones. The biological rationale of these protocols is to obtain a biocompatible scaffold in which the patient's cells can be implanted with the purpose of restoring the organ's function, without creating a risk of rejection for the patient. This article will thus present the main characteristics of these protocols in the nephrologic area, in order to have an outlook of what might be the future of transplantation.