Cell Biology of Extracellular Matrix

This book introduces the most important and best studied extracellular and pericellular molecules of the tumor microenvironment. It gives a comprehensive overview of their role in tumor development and cancer progression.

This book reports research and new developments in the field of collagen structure, function, and biomechanics and discusses the relevance of hyaluronic acid and its therapeutic uses. It gives readers a glimpse of what is current in this area and we hope it piques their interest in learning more about ECM biology.

This volume provides a state-of-art-report on the new methodologies in tissue engineering and developments in the biomaterials field based on the extracellular matrix-relevant discovery. Extracellular Matrix for Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials opens with an overview of the latest extracellular matrix research and in Part I, focuses on its biology and its role on cell behavior and cell fate relevant for the design of biomimetic surfaces.

The extracellular matrix in development and disease deals with the molecular and cellular aspects of development and disease. Cells exist in three-dimensional scaffolding called the extracellular matrix. The matrix holds together the millions of cells that make up our blood vessels, organs, skin, and all tissues of the body.