Extracellular Matrix‐Based Biohybrid Materials for Engineering Compliant, Matrix‐Dense Tissues

Abstract

An ideal tissue engineering scaffold should not only promote, but take an active role in, constructive remodeling and formation of site appropriate tissue. ECM-derived proteins provide unmatched cellular recognition, and therefore influence cellular response towards predicted remodeling behaviors. Materials built with only these proteins, however, can degrade rapidly or begin too weak to substitute for compliant, matrix-dense tissues. The focus of this review is on biohybrid materials that incorporate polymer components with ECM-derived proteins, to produce a substrate with desired mechanical and degradation properties, as well as actively guide tissue remodeling. Materials are described through four fabrication methods: (1) polymer and ECM-protein fibers woven together, (2) polymer and ECM proteins combined in a bilayer, (3) cell-built ECM on polymer scaffold, and (4) ECM proteins and polymers combined in a single hydrogel. Scaffolds from each fabrication method can achieve characteristics suitable for different types of tissue. In vivo testing has shown progressive remodeling in injury models, and suggests ECM-based biohybrid materials promote a prohealing immune response over single component alternatives. The prohealing immune response is associated with lasting success and long term host maintenance of the implant.

Orientational Coupling Locally Orchestrates a Cell Migration Pattern for Re‐Epithelialization

“…Based on our experimental study, a mechanical model was built to illustrate our orientational coupling effect on the collective migration of keratinocytes. The whole process of cells migrating over the triangle region could be divided into the protruding stage and the remodeling stage . The former refers to the state in which cells protrude toward basal nonadhesive triangle region, pulling up the cells in the middle to bridge over the basal region (Figure c).…”

Concise Review: Fabrication, Customization, and Application of Cell Mimicking Microparticles in Stem Cell Science

“…While all of these materials can be fabricated in ways that replicate cell properties in regard to size, protein coating, and topography, only a few are suitable for achieving physiologically relevant mechanical properties (i.e., Young's modulus < 10 kPa). Cell mimicking stiffness has been demonstrated using CS , HA , gelatin , agarose , and PAAm , while materials such as PLGA are orders of magnitude stiffer than cells, even when hybridized with more compliant materials . Characteristics such as biodegradability and biocompatibility can be incorporated into all of these materials through chemical modification or copolymerization; however, the simplicity of these chemistries depends on the molecular composition of the materials.…”

Highly efficient cardiac differentiation and maintenance by thrombin-coagulated fibrin hydrogels enriched with decellularized porcine heart extracellular matrix

“…Various approaches to reinforce cardiac dECM are available, and include for instance covalent crosslinking [28] or combination with additional hydrogels [29]. Williams, et al combined the two approaches by blending fibrin with dECM from neonatal and adult rat hearts, followed by crosslinking with transglutaminase [30].…”

“…To avoid such side reactions, we here use fibrin obtained by coagulation of fibrinogen with human thrombin [11] to raise the level of stiffness in dECM-fibrin blends in a more specific and safer way. The use of fibrin as opposed to synthetic polymers [29] is motivated by the reported increased efficiency of cardiac reprogramming in the presence of this biopolymer [32].…”