The structure of connective tissues including cartilage, tendons, and ligaments as well as
many organs, like the skin, heart, liver, kidney, lungs, blood vessels, and bones, depend on …

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the complex meshwork of proteins and glycans that forms
the scaffold that surrounds and supports cells. It exerts key roles in all aspects of metazoan …

Collagen with a multi-hierarchical architecture exhibits powerful biological performance,
thus being developed in biomedical applications as a processing building block. The …

The collagen molecular family is the result of nearly one billion years of evolution. It is a
unique family of proteins, the majority of which provide general mechanical support to …

Current treatments for repairing articular cartilage defects are limited. However, pro-
chondrogenic hydrogels formulated using articular cartilage matrix components (such as …

The content of type I collagen (COL-I) and type III collagen (COL-III) and the ratio between
them not only affect the skin elasticity and mechanical strength, but also determine the fibril …

Apical extracellular matrices (aECMs) coat the exposed surfaces of animal bodies to shape
tissues, influence social interactions, and protect against pathogens and other …

Protein-based fibers combine unique mechanical properties with biocompatibility and
biodegradability, and often outperform polymer-based fibers. Furthermore, a growing need …

The forces driving tissue morphogenesis are thought to originate from cellular activities.
While it is appreciated that extracellular matrix (ECM) may also be involved, ECM function is …

Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals, often serving as the main load bearing
constituent in soft tissues. Collagen undergoes continuous remodeling processes in which …