Figure 1 –

Mimicking complex mechanical aspects of microenvironmental signaling. With the use of modular and synthetic biomaterials, researchers have begun to elucidate the mechanical effects of ECM on cell function beyond its modulus. These properties include the time-dependent components of viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity, as well as dynamic changes to the modulus. Though material modulus and crosslink density are often used interchangeably in the biomaterials community, current efforts seek to decouple material crosslinking, stiffness, degradability, and fibral architecture so as to elucidate their independent effects on cell function.