title: Development of biocompatible synthetic extracellular matrices for tissue engineering.
abstract: Tissue engineering may provide an alternative to organ and tissue transplantation, both of which suffer from a limitation of supply. Cell transplantation using biodegradable synthetic extracellular matrices offers the possibility of creating completely natural new tissues and so replacing lost or malfunctioning organs or tissues. Synthetic extracellular matrices fabricated from biocompatible, biodegradable polymers play an important role in the formation of functional new tissue from transplanted cells. They provide a temporary scaffolding to guide new tissue growth and organization, and may provide specific signals intended to retain tissue-specific gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mooney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001187:Artificial Organs; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010641:Phenotype; D016378:Tissue Transplantation
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials