Critical Reviews™ in Eukaryotic Gene Expression

ISSN for PRINT: 1045-4403

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2002, Volume12

Issue 2

78 pages

DOI: 10.1615/CritRevEukaryotGeneExpr.v12.i2

Issue price - $169.00

Andres J. Garcia
'Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering; Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Atlanta, GA 30332

Benjamin G. Keselowsky
Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience; Coulter School of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix ligands through integrin receptors plays a central role in bone formation and maintenance by anchoring cells and triggering signals that direct osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, osteoblast adhesion to adsorbed, synthesized, or engineered extracellular ligands on synthetic surfaces is critical to numerous biomedical and biotechnological applications. Considerable research efforts have concentrated on the development of surfaces that promote osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Emerging surface engineering approaches have focused on creating biomimetic substrates that target integrins to activate signaling pathways directing the osteoblast differentiation program. These initiatives generally rely on controlling the adsorption of extracellular matrix ligands or engineering synthetic supports presenting bioadhesive motifs from extracellular matrix proteins. These biomolecular approaches provide promising strategies for the engineering of robust biofunctional matrices that control cell adhesion and signaling and promote osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and matrix mineralization.

DOI: 10.1615/CritRevEukaryotGeneExpr.v12.i2.50 Download article, 12 pages

Article price - $35.00

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