title: Surface-initiated assembly of protein nanofabrics.
abstract: Cells and tissues are self-organized within an extracellular matrix (ECM) composed of multifunctional, nano- to micrometer scale protein fibrils. We have developed a cell-free, surface-initiated assembly technique to rebuild this ECM structure in vitro. The matrix proteins fibronectin, laminin, fibrinogen, collagen type I, and collagen type IV are micropatterned onto thermosensitive surfaces as 1 to 10 nm thick, micrometer to centimeter wide networks, and released as flexible, free-standing nanofabrics. Independent control of microstructure and protein composition enables us to engineer the mechanical and chemical anisotropy. Fibronectin nanofabrics are highly extensible (>4-fold) and serve as scaffolds for engineering synchronously contracting, cardiac muscle; demonstrating biofunctionality comparable to cell-generated ECM.
authors.affiliation: Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically-Inspired Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Adam W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Feinberg
authors.forename: Kevin Kit
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D002474:Cell-Free System; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins