Collagen-based tissue engineering extracellular matrix

Cell interaction of collagen. Most cells do not have receptors for the synthetic polymers and thus the synthetic polymers-based products are less suitable for tissue engineering application. Thus by mixing collagen, which is an integral component of extracellular matrix, with natural or synthetic polymers improves the adhesion characteristics for products. At the same time, extracellular matrix proteins such as laminin, fibronectin and vitronectin are not absorbed on to the surface of polymeric products prepared as hydrogels, due to the hydrophilic nature of polymeric network components. 

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