Advancements in the field of tissue engineering have
led to the
elucidation of physical and chemical characteristics of physiological
basement membranes (BM) as specialized forms of the extracellular
matrix. Efforts to recapitulate the intricate structure and biological
composition of the BM have encountered various advancements due to
its impact on cell fate, function, and regulation. More attention
has been paid to synthesizing biocompatible and biofunctional fibrillar
scaffolds that closely mimic the natural BM. Specific modifications
in biomimetic BM have paved the way for the development of
in vitro
models like alveolar-capillary barrier, airway
models, skin, blood-brain barrier, kidney barrier, and metastatic
models, which can be used for personalized drug screening, understanding
physiological and pathological pathways, and tissue implants. In this
Review, we focus on the structure, composition, and functions of
in vivo
BM and the ongoing efforts to mimic it synthetically.
Light has been shed on the advantages and limitations of various forms
of biomimetic BM scaffolds including porous polymeric membranes, hydrogels,
and electrospun membranes This Review further elaborates and justifies
the significance of BM mimics in tissue engineering, in particular
in the development of
in vitro
organ model systems.