ECMcontaining

ECM-containing refers to materials, tissues, or constructs that include extracellular matrix components as part of their composition. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of proteins, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans synthesized by cells and deposited in the intercellular space. ECM-containing systems can be natural, such as decellularized tissues that preserve native ECM architecture, or synthetic or semi-synthetic, where purified ECM components are assembled into hydrogels, films, or fibrous scaffolds. Common ECM components include collagens (notably type I and IV), laminin, fibronectin, elastin, and various proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans.

These materials provide structural support and furnish biochemical cues that influence cell adhesion, growth, migration, and differentiation. They also modulate mechanical properties and serve as reservoirs for growth factors. Due to their bioactivity, ECM-containing constructs are widely used in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and in vitro models, where they support more physiologically relevant cell behavior compared with inert substrates. Decellularized ECM scaffolds are used for organ and tissue reconstruction, while ECM-based hydrogels enable 3D cell culture and organoid formation.

Limitations include variability between sources and batches, potential immune reactions if residual antigens remain, and challenges in achieving defined mechanical properties. Ongoing research seeks to standardize production, tune ECM composition, and combine ECM with synthetic polymers to tailor performance.

See also: extracellular matrix, decellularization, tissue engineering, hydrogels.