title: Extracellular Matrix Revisited: Roles in Tissue Engineering.
abstract: The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a heterogeneous, connective network composed of fibrous glycoproteins that coordinate in vivo to provide the physical scaffolding, mechanical stability, and biochemical cues necessary for tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis. This review highlights some of the recently raised aspects of the roles of the ECM as related to the fields of biophysics and biomedical engineering. Fundamental aspects of focus include the role of the ECM as a basic cellular structure, for novel spontaneous network formation, as an ideal scaffold in tissue engineering, and its essential contribution to cell sheet technology. As these technologies move from the laboratory to clinical practice, they are bound to shape the vast field of tissue engineering for medical transplantations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Institute of Biological Interfaces, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Youhwan
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0586-8717
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Institute of Biological Interfaces, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyojin
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8425-841X
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Il Keun
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Ik Keun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9649-3003
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Institute of Biological Interfaces, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwanwoo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7563-8581
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shin
keywords: Cell Sheets; Collagen; Elastin; Extracellular Matrix; Fibronectin; Tissue Engineering