Assessing the effects of bladder decellularization protocols on extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, mechanics, and biology.

Introduction: Acellular matrices have historically been applied as biologic scaffolds in surgery, wound care, and tissue engineering, albeit with inconsistent outcomes. One aspect that varies widely between products is the selection of decellularization protocol, yet few studies assess comparative effectiveness of these protocols in preserving mechanics, and protein content. This study characterizes bladder acellular matrix (BAM) using two different detergent and enzymatic protocols, evaluating effects on nuclei and DNA removal (≥90%), structure, tensile properties, and maintenance of extracellular matrix proteins.