title: Tissue engineering on the nanoscale: lessons from the heart.
abstract: Recognizing the limitations of biomaterials for engineering complex tissues and the desire for closer recapitulation of the natural matrix have led tissue engineers to seek new technologies for fabricating 3-dimensional (3D) cellular microenvironments. In this review, through examples from cardiac tissue engineering, we describe the nanoscale hallmarks of the extracellular matrix that tissue engineers strive to mimic. Furthermore, we discuss the use of inorganic nanoparticles and nanodevices for improving and monitoring the performance of engineered tissues. Finally, we offer our opinion on the main challenges and prospects of applying nanotechnology in tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Science, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fleischer
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dvir
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials