title: Modular self-assembling biomaterials for directing cellular responses.
abstract: Self-assembling biomaterials are promising as cell-interactive matrices because they can be constructed in a modular fashion, which enables the independent and simultaneous tuning of several of their physicochemical and biological properties. Such modularity facilitates the optimization of multi-component matrices for use in complex biological environments such as 3-D cell culture or scaffolds for regenerative medicine. This Highlight will discuss recent strategies for producing modular self-assembling biomaterials, with a particular focus on how ligand presentation and matrix mechanics can be controlled in modular ways. In addition, it will discuss key hurdles that remain for employing these materials as cell-interactive scaffolds in biomedical applications, particularly those that relate to how they may interface with the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Joel H. Collier, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery and Committee on Molecular Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave, Abbott Hall AB522, Chicago, IL 60637 USA, collier@uchicago.edu.
authors.forename: Joel H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Collier