Ion-Induced Alignment and Locking Fabricates Strong Fibers from Disordered Decellularized Matrix

Abstract

The decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is prized for its innate bioactivity, but notoriously difficult to process into continuous fibers with mechanical robustness, due to its disordered and heterogeneous nature. Here, we report a universal ion-induced alignment and locking strategy that programs disordered dECM proteins into strong, continuous, and bioactive fibers, through the formation of an orientated structure and increased crystallization and aggregation of polymer chains. The resulting dECM fibers exhibit superior mechanical performances, including high strength (15 MPa), toughness (171 MJ/m³), modulus (13 MPa), and excellent immunocompatibility, outperforming many reported natural and synthetic fibers. We demonstrate the practical utility of these fibers as high-performance surgical sutures that promote wound healing and as soft, flexible, and insulating core–shell neural electrodes for effective wireless nerve stimulation and signal recording. Moreover, this strategy proves effective across dECMs from various tissues and enhances the strength of other synthetic fibers such as polyvinyl alcohol, alginate, and gelatin by orders of magnitude. This work overcomes a long-standing challenge in biomaterial processing and provides a versatile platform for fabricating high-performance hydrogel fibers for demanding biomedical applications.

Keywords

Decellularized matrix fiber / Alignment / Suture / Electrode

References

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No. 32401123)

Shanghai Pujiang Program(Grant No. 23PJ1400600)

Shanghai Science and Technology Plan(Grant No. 24CL2900700)

State Key Laboratory for Advanced Fiber Materials(Grant No. 23M1060280)

Donghua University Cultivation Project in the Field of Discipline Innovation(Grant No. XKCX202317)

Research Fund of Shanghai Tongren Hospital(Grant No. 2023DHYGJC-ZDA02)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China