Table 3.
Beneficial properties of each protein within the ECM.
| Protein | Properties | Benefit to Neural Regeneration | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elastin | Highly elastic, water-soluble, hydrophobic. | Promotes cellular adhesion, proliferation, stem cell differentiation, the release of growth factors, drug delivery. | [169] |
| Fibrinogen | Produces fibrin network, composed of polypeptide chains. | Facilitate stem cell proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation. | [170] |
| Laminin | Abundant in native ECM. | Basement membrane. Facilitate cellular attachment, differentiation, and neurite outgrowth. | [171,172] |
| Silk | Naturally occurring in ECM. | Promotes oxygen and permeability. Biodegradable. Supports SC and neuron growth and attachment. |
[173,174] |
| Collagen | Abundant in native ECM. | Fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory response. | [175,176] |
| Hyaluronic Acid | Abundant in embryonic tissue and ECM. | Maintains ECM, regulates binding proteins in cellular adhesion, proliferation, pro/anti-inflammatory response depending on molecular weight. | [177] |