Organoids—cellular aggregates derived from stem or progenitor cells that recapitulate organ
function in miniature—are of growing interest in developmental biology and medicine …

Hydrogels have been widely investigated in biomedical fields due to their similar physical
and biochemical properties to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Collagen and hyaluronic acid …

Structural changes involving tissue remodelling and fibrosis are major features of many
pulmonary diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and …

Since the 2010s, the demand for healthcare models has exceeded the prevailing resources
available due to the rapid increase in the aging population in China. However, a significant …

Integrins are heterodimeric cell surface receptors ensuring the mechanical connection
between cells and the extracellular matrix. In addition to the anchorage of cells to the …

The glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is a key component of the glomerular capillary
wall and is essential for kidney filtration. The major components of the GBM include …

Basement membranes are delicate, nanoscale and pliable sheets of extracellular matrices
that often act as linings or partitions in organisms. Previously considered as passive …

No other tissue in the body depends more on the composition and organization of the
extracellular matrix (ECM) for normal structure and function than the corneal stroma. The …

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 …

In epithelial cancers, cells must invade through basement membranes (BMs) to metastasize.
The BM, a thin layer of extracellular matrix underlying epithelial and endothelial tissues, is …