The brain's extracellular matrix (ECM), a 3-dimensional macromolecular network that supports cell growth and viability, has crucial roles in homeostasis and disease. Accurate recapitulation of the chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the ECM in brain cell cultures is essential for the development of translatable in vitro models; however, thus far, this task has proven highly challenging. This review provides an in-depth discussion of this challenge, including an overview of the properties of the ECM that in vitro models should endeavour to capture, a survey of ECM analogues that are currently used for this purpose, and a discussion of the main hindrances to developing more effective ECM-like coating materials
Mimicking the Brain Extracellular Matrix in Vitro: A Review of Current Methodologies and Challenges
Rauti RMethodology
;
2020
Abstract
The brain's extracellular matrix (ECM), a 3-dimensional macromolecular network that supports cell growth and viability, has crucial roles in homeostasis and disease. Accurate recapitulation of the chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the ECM in brain cell cultures is essential for the development of translatable in vitro models; however, thus far, this task has proven highly challenging. This review provides an in-depth discussion of this challenge, including an overview of the properties of the ECM that in vitro models should endeavour to capture, a survey of ECM analogues that are currently used for this purpose, and a discussion of the main hindrances to developing more effective ECM-like coating materialsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
