Topographic description of the pancreas scaffold decellularized by multiple sodium dodecyl sulfate injections through scanning electron microscopy: A preliminary study

Introduction: Pancreatic decellularization involves removing cellular components to create biological scaffolds for tissue engineering. An ideal scaffold retains an intact extracellular matrix with effective cell removal, which can be assessed through its topography using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study aimed to examine the topographic features of pancreatic scaffolds decellularized using the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) multiple injection method with SEM. Methods: Pancreatic tissue was isolated from Wistar rats (n = 4) and decellularized using graded concentrations of SDS (0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%) via multiple injections with a 1 cc syringe. Scaffolds were then examined using SEM to evaluate topographical features compared to control tissue. Results: Pancreatic tissue was successfully decellularized using graded SDS injections, yielding transparent scaffolds. SEM analysis showed reduced cellular content, smoother surfaces, and preserved extracellular matrix with evenly distributed pores, indicating suitability for recellularization. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that SDS-based multiple injection decellularization produces pancreatic scaffolds with well-defined pores and preserved extracellular matrix integrity, indicating their potential for tissue engineering applications.