Preparation and characterization of SPF porcine decellularized tendon biomaterials

Tendon, a dense connective tissue linking bone and skeletal muscle, is decellularized to generate tendon-derived Extracellular Matrix (dECM) – an increasingly utilized biomaterial for tendon repair. This study employed specific pathogen-free (SPF) Rongchang porcine tendons to optimize decellularization methodology. Decellularization efficacy was quantified through histological analysis and residual dsDNA quantification, while proteomic composition was compared across anatomical regions and developmental stages. A decellularized tendon matrix membrane (DTM) was subsequently fabricated. In vitro biocompatibility assessment confirmed that DTM does not induce severe erythrocyte hemolysis, exhibits no potential cytotoxicity, and shows significant upregulation of the tendon-specific markers Scx and Tnmd , while Col1α1 and Tnc remain unchanged. In vivo subcutaneous implantation revealed no gross rejection phenotype. These findings establish an optimized decellularization protocol and provide essential biomaterial characterization data for porcine tendon dECM development, offering critical insights for donor selection and clinical translation of tendon repair strategies.