Synthetic basement membrane for regenerative medicine

摘要

The proliferation and differentiation of cells are strictly regulated by cues transmitted from the microenvironment surrounding cells. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential part of the microenvironment, providing intrinsic signals through interactions with cell surface receptors (e.g., integrins) and regulating the localization of growth factors and morphogens. ECM composition varies from one cell type to another. Accumulating evidence indicates that ECM composition is spatiotemporally regulated during embryonic development. Given the importance of such a customized microenvironment, the characterization and reconstitution of a customized ECM has been sought for stem cell-based regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.