Most eukaryotic cells have the ability to recognise and react functionally to adhesive extracellular matrices. This is true not only for actively migrating cells that use adhesive contact for traction and guidance, but also for stationary cells that require a platform for support and orientation. Cell-extracellular matrix adhesion has a homeostatic function in promoting tissue regeneration duri...

BACKGROUND The use of highly reproducible and spatiallyhomogeneous thin film matrices permits automated microscopy and quantitative determination of the response of hundreds of cells in a population. Using thin films of extracellular matrix proteins, we have quantified, on a cell-by-cell basis, phenotypic parameters of cells on different extracellular matrices. We have quantitatively examined t...

Recently, it has been proven that cartilage healing is difficult. The most commonly used treatments are autogenously cartilage grafting and allogeneic bone grafting, but grafts cannot fully meet treatment goals because of source, price, safety, and other concerns. Thus, a combination of biological materials and tissue engineering technology has become a recent trend in studies. Among the studie...

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been demonstrated to be a family of biopolymers with good biodegradability and biocompatibility. To mimic the real microenvironment of extracellular matrix (ECM) for cell growth, novel nanofiber matrices based on PHA polymers were prepared via a phase separation process. Three-dimensional interconnected fibrous networks were observed in these matrices with aver...

Tissue engineering may provide an alternative to organ and tissue transplantation, both of which suffer from a limitation of supply. Cell transplantation using biodegradable synthetic extracellular matrices offers the possibility of creating completely natural new tissues and so replacing lost or malfunctioning organs or tissues. Synthetic extracellular matrices fabricated from biocompatible, b...

Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell migration and proliferation play a major role in the development of atherosclerotic lesions, graft occlusion, and restenosis after angioplasty. Cell migration implies the digestion of the surrounding extracellular matrix. Cell-associated proteolysis has been extensively studied in neoplastic and inflammatory cells, but very little is known about the proteolytic...

PURPOSE To investigate how extracellular matrix mechanical properties influence cell and matrix patterning in three-dimensional culture. METHODS Human corneal fibroblasts were seeded within 30 x 10 mm collagen matrices that were unconstrained (UN), fully constrained (CO) along the long axis by attaching the construct to two immobilized plastic bars, or partially constrained (PC) by allowing l...

Scaffolding plays a pivotal role in tissue engineering. To mimic the architecture of a natural extracellular matrix component-collagen, nona-fibrous matrices have been created with synthetic biodegradable polymers in our laboratory using a phase-separation technique. To improve the cell seeding, distribution, mass transport, and new tissue organization, three-dimensional macroporous architectur...

In recent years the science of tissue engineering has emerged as a powerful tool for the development of a novel set of tissue replacement parts and technologies. Recent advances in the fields of biomaterials, stem cell technologies, growth factor field and biomimetics have created a unique set of opportunities for investigators to fabricate lab-grown tissues from combination of extracellular ma...