Disease Biophysics Group, Wyss Institute for Biologically-Inspired Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
Nano Lett. 2010 Jun 9;10(6):2184-91. doi: 10.1021/nl100998p.
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.
细胞和组织在由多功能纳米到微米级蛋白质原纤维组成的细胞外基质（ECM）中自组织。我们开发了一种无细胞、表面引发的组装技术，以在体外重建这种 ECM 结构。基质蛋白纤维连接蛋白、层粘连蛋白、纤维蛋白原、I 型胶原和 IV 型胶原被微图案化为 1 到 10nm 厚、1 到 10 微米宽的网络，并作为柔韧的、独立的纳米纤维释放。对微结构和蛋白质组成的独立控制使我们能够工程化机械和化学各向异性。纤维连接蛋白纳米纤维具有高度的可拉伸性（>4 倍），并作为工程同步收缩的心肌的支架；表现出与细胞生成的 ECM 相当的生物功能。
