Formation of Corneal Stromal-Like Assemblies Using Human Corneal Fibroblasts and Macromolecular Crowding
Book chapter > Chapter Other Book · 2020
Authors: Gülinnaz ERCAN, Mehmet Gürdal, Dimitrios I Zeugolis
Methods in Molecular Biology, Chapter Other Book, Springer Science+Business Media, B, International, 2020, pp 119-141, England, Hertfordshire
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0599-8_9
Summary
<p>Tissue engineering by self-assembly allows for the formation of living tissue substitutes, using the cells' innate capability to produce and deposit tissue-specific extracellular matrix. However, in order to develop extracellular matrix-rich implantable devices, prolonged culture time is required in traditionally utilized dilute ex vivo microenvironments. Macromolecular crowding, by imitating the in vivo tissue density, dramatically accelerates biological processes, resulting in enhanced and accelerated extracellular matrix deposition. Herein, we describe the ex vivo formation of corneal stromal-like assemblies using human corneal fibroblasts and macromolecular crowding.</p>