M2-Macrophage-Derived Extracellular Vesicles-Functionalized Acellular Dermal Matrix as a New-Generation Immunoregulatory and Angio-Inductive Construct for Skin Tissue Engineering

2026-01-01
Yazicioglu, Sevval
Arslan, Tugba Sezgin
ERDOĞAN, Yaşar Kemal
Ercan, Batur
ARSLAN, YAVUZ EMRE
DERKUŞ, BURAK
Extracellular vesicles, e.g., exosomes, derived from anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages have emerged as potent mediators of tissue regeneration through their ability to modulate cellular behavior, immune responses, and angiogenesis. In this study, we developed a composite bioactive scaffold by integrating M2 macrophage-derived EVs (M2-EVs) into decellularized skin extracellular matrix (dSECM), and systematically evaluated its structural, biochemical, and regenerative properties. Bovine dermis was decellularized using chemical, enzymatic, and physical steps, yielding collagen-rich, DNA-depleted ECM matrices with preserved collagen content and tunable stiffness (15–40 kPa). M2-EVs were isolated from IL-10-polarized RAW264.7 macrophages and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS, mean diameter ∼151 nm), and Western blotting for CD81/CD63/TSG101/Calnexin expressions. Functional assays revealed that M2-EVs enhanced the proliferation and migration of human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, with 100 µg/mL achieving >90% wound closure at 48 h. When combined with dSECM, M2-EVs further increased the expression of immunoregulatory genes such as TGF-β (∼2.9-fold) and IL-10 (∼3.8-fold), consistent with the scaffold's capacity to enhance anti-inflammatory signaling. In the chick CAM model, dSECM/M2-EVs significantly enhanced vascularization along with increased collagen deposition and vascular smooth muscle cell recruitment. These results highlight M2-EVs as emerging biological effectors when incorporated into ECM-based scaffolds for vascularized tissue repair.
Macromolecular Bioscience
Citation Formats
S. Yazicioglu, T. S. Arslan, Y. K. ERDOĞAN, B. Ercan, Y. E. ARSLAN, and B. DERKUŞ, “M2-Macrophage-Derived Extracellular Vesicles-Functionalized Acellular Dermal Matrix as a New-Generation Immunoregulatory and Angio-Inductive Construct for Skin Tissue Engineering,” Macromolecular Bioscience, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 0–0, 2026, Accessed: 00, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=105028457768&origin=inward.