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New directions and dimensions for bioengineered models of fibrosis

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During fibrotic diseases, functional tissue parenchyma progressively transforms into stiff, disorganized and non-functional tissue causing organ failure. The underlying multitude of interconnected changes in the cellular microenvironment can be investigated using bioengineered fibrosis models.

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Fig. 1: Dissecting the dynamics of fibrosis.

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Acknowledgements

W.Y.W. and D.L.M. acknowledge financial support from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (DGE1256260). B.M.B. acknowledges financial support from an NIH Pathway to Independence Award (HL124322) and the University of Michigan MCubed Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Daniel L. Matera & Brendon M. Baker

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    William Y. Wang & Brendon M. Baker

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  1. Daniel L. Matera
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  2. William Y. Wang
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  3. Brendon M. Baker
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All authors contributed to the preparation of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Brendon M. Baker.

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Matera, D.L., Wang, W.Y. & Baker, B.M. New directions and dimensions for bioengineered models of fibrosis. Nat Rev Mater 6, 192–195 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-021-00288-x

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