Materials as morphogenetic guides in tissue engineering

Within native tissues cells are held within the extracellular matrix (ECM), which has a role in maintaining homeostasis, guiding development and directing regeneration. Efforts in tissue engineering have aimed to mimick the ECM to help guide morphogenesis and tissue repair. Studies have not only looked at ways to mimick the structure and characteristics of the ECM, but have also considered ways to reproduce its molecular properties including its bioadhesive character, proteolytic susceptibility and ability to bind growth factors.