Engineering approaches to study fibrosis in 3-D in vitro systems

- Development of anti-fibrotic treatments is hampered by culture system limitations.
- Fibrosis involves ECM disarray, TGF-β1 signaling, and matrix stiffening.
- Tunable 3-D engineered structures can recapitulate the aforementioned features.
- Novel imaging and sensor tools can allow visualization of matrix dynamics in vitro.