About this Research Topic
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide an overview of the recent advances in the development of novel ECM-like microenvironments as in vitro models of healthy and diseased tissue/organs, including organoid development, or as tools in regenerative medicine. During the last decades, the increasing knowledge of ECM composition and function in different tissues, together with research in areas like cell-ECM interaction and biomaterials science, has set the grounds for the achievement of promising approaches to mimic the native ECM. Therefore, we are at an optimal point to imagine and generate new models and regenerative strategies that span the full range of tissues and organs in the body. Herein, we expect to provide a collection of articles that will be of value not only to researchers already working in the field but also for the general scientific audience.
All types of manuscripts regarding ECM-like microenvironments are welcomed, including original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and opinions. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Biomaterial-based microenvironments, including scaffolds (in general) and hydrogels (in particular)
• Decellularized ECM (dECM)
• Natural and synthetic biomaterials, including Matrigel, collagen, PEG, silk, elastin, etc.
• Dynamic scaffolds, e.g., biodegradable
• Stimuli-responsive scaffolds
• Models of healthy and diseased tissue/organs (including cancer models)
• Organoids and similar models of development/morphogenesis
• Cell-ECM interactions
• Mechanobiology
• Biofabrication strategies, including 3D bioprinting
• Methods for the evaluation and characterization of scaffolds
• Drug efficacy
• Personalized medicine
Keywords: Extracellular matrix, microenvironment, in vitro model, regenerative medicine, biomaterials, tissue engineering, biofabrication, hydrogels, scaffolds, biomimicry, cancer models, disease models, organoids, biomaterial
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.