Comparison of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate in the Intestinal Decellularization of Rats Using a Histological Method and Confocal Raman Microscopy

Background: Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) detergent is widely used in tissue decellularization to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering. Despite its strong decellularization, this substance has relatively high toxicity and causes changes in tissue composition. Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) is a new poly anionic detergent that is less toxic than SDS but weaker than it. The present study aimed to decellularize the intestinal tissue using SDS and SLES solutions, forming a cell scaffold, and examining scaffolds obtained from this tissue. Methods: Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The intestines of all rats were removed after anesthesia. In the first group (controls), rats’ intestines were placed in a 10% formalin solution. In the second group, intestines were decellularized using an SLES solution. In the third group animals’ intestines were decellularized using an SDS solution. To evaluate decellularization, samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Alcian blue staining for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and Masson’s trichrome for collagen fibers. A confocal Raman microscope was used to compare collagen, lipid, GAG, and genetic content. Results: Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the nucleus and DNA were removed in the decellularized scaffolds by SDS or SLES. The SLES group, compared to the SDS group, showed fewer changes in the epithelial tissue, and muscle layers in both scaffolds were well preserved. The results of confocal Raman microscopy showed that tryptophan, lipid, glycogen, and protein were broken down by both detergents; however, the residual amount of glycogen was the same in both substances, but disulfide bonds of proteins, hydroxyproline, and lipids in the decellularized intestine with SLES were mostly preserved. Conclusion: Both substances were suitable for intestinal decellularization and removed the overall structure of intestinal tissue, but SLES retained collagen and GAG content better than SDS.