background: collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body, and as an extracellular matrix protein, has an important role in the fiber formation. this feature of the collagen renders  establishment of the structural skeleton in tissues. regarding specific features associated with the collagen, such as, formation of the porous structure, permeability and hydrophilicity, it can also be use...

Extracellular matrix (ECM) composition has an important role in determining airway structure. We postulated that ECM lung composition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients differs from that observed in smoking and nonsmoking subjects without airflow obstruction. We determined the fractional areas of elastic fibres, type-I, -III and -IV collagen, versican, decorin, biglycan, l...

General principles of ECM organization are well known. Organized fibrous polymers, including collagens, elastins, and resilins, are embedded within an amorphous mixture of nonfibrous components as the fundamental theme. The need for inextensibility coupled with great strength mandates the presence of fibrous macromolecules, primarily those that aggregate into near crystalline arrays such as the...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease that involves major remodelling of cells and tissue in the lung. There has been much focus on the inflammatory response, while less attention has been paid to structural changes and alterations of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this review we revisit some of the latest findings on what is currently known about EC...

................................................................................................................................................... 1 Publications and conference presentation relevant to the thesis ........................................................... 4 Chapter 1: Literature review and study aims ................................................................................

The goal of tissue engineering is the creation of a living device that can restore, maintain or improve tissue function. Behind this goal is a new idea that has emerged from twentieth century medicine, science and engineering. It is preceded by centuries of human repair and replacement with non-living materials adapted to restore function and cosmetic appearance to patients whose tissues have b...

Highly ordered ring-like structures are formed via the directed assembly of lipid domains in supported bilayers, using the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. The ability of biological molecules to guide nanoscale assembly suggests potential biomimetic approaches to nanoscale structures.

The extracellular matrix is a three-dimensional network of proteins, glycosaminoglycans and other macromolecules. It has a structural support function as well as a role in cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. The extracellular matrix conveys signals through membrane receptors called integrins and plays an important role in pituitary physiology and tumorigenesi...