Decellularized adipose tissue foam as an ECM-derived scaffold for osteogenic differentiation and bone regeneration

This study investigated foam-like decellularized adipose tissue (DAT foam) as an extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived scaffold for bone defect repair. We characterized the structural and biological properties of DAT foam and evaluated its effects on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro and bone regeneration in vivo. DAT foam enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs in vitro, as demonstrated by increased ALP activity, mineralized matrix deposition, and osteogenic marker expression. In addition, DAT foam partially restored osteogenic differentiation under high-dose dexamethasone-induced suppression. In vivo, DAT foam promoted bone regeneration, as demonstrated by micro-CT analysis. These findings demonstrate that DAT foam promotes osteogenic differentiation and bone regeneration, supporting its potential as an ECM-derived scaffold for bone defect repair.