Morteza Alizadeh - Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Leila Rezakhani - Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Mohammad Khodaei - Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Golpayegan University of Technology, Golpayegan, Iran
Akram Alizadeh - Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences,Shahrekord, Iran

Background and aims: Some biological scaffolds are used as appropriate skin substitutes, including decellularized amniotic membrane ordermis although the ovine pericardial tissue has not been characterized or used for skin tissue engineering. In this regard, this study focusedon the decellularization and characterization of ovine pericardium for skin tissue engineering.Materials and Methods: To this end, two different methods were used for decellularization, including safety data sheet (SDS) ۱% (method ۱)and Triton X-۱۰۰ ۱% (method ۲). In addition, histological examinations (H&E staining), DNA content assay, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), MTT test using human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and tensile tests were conducted for sample characterization.Results: Based on the results, the DNA content showed significant DNA removing (P < ۰.۰۰۱) after decellularization with methods ۱ and ۲in comparison to native tissues although the significance level between the two methods was P = ۰.۰۶. In the SEM examination, cells wereeffectively removed while the extracellular matrix remained intact in both groups. Based on the results of the MTT test, the toxicity was notsignificant (P = ۰.۳۶). On the other hand, mechanical property assay revealed a higher value of Young’s modulus in method ۱ (۳۴.۱۲ MPa)compared to Method ۲ (۳۲.۵۷ MPa) and native tissues (۳۰ MPa). Finally, the highest strain at the break point (approximately ۰.۶) belongedto the native sample.Conclusion: In general, the ovine seems to be a good alternative for skin tissue engineering and regeneration since it is a post-slaughteringwaste tissue has low thickness, is wide and spread, and easy to be decellularized with SDS ۱% and Triton X-۱۰۰. Eventually, it has goodproperties for cell seeding based on the findings of our study and the capability of vascularization reported in the literature.

Ovine pericardium, Acellular, Skin tissue engineering