Design of artificial extracellular matrices for tissue engineering

The design of artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) is important in tissue engineering because artificial ECM regulates cellular behaviors, including proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation. Artificial ECMs have several functions in tissue engineering, including provision of cell-adhesive substrate, control of three-dimensional tissue structure, and presentation of growth factors, cell-adhesion signals, and mechanical signals. Design criteria for artificial ECMs vary considerably depending on the type of the engineered tissue. This article reviews the materials and methods that have been used in fabrication of artificial ECMs for engineering of specific tissues, including liver, cartilage, bone, and skin. This article also reviews artificial ECMs used for modulation of stem cell behaviors for tissue engineering applications.