Liver fibrosis is an advanced liver disease condition, which could progress to cirrhosis and
hepatocellular carcinoma. To date, there is no direct approved antifibrotic therapy, and …

Hypoxia is an inherent pathophysiological characteristic of chronic kidney disease (CKD),
which is closely associated with the development of renal inflammation and fibrosis, as well …

A hallmark of pancreatic tumors is their highly desmoplastic stroma composed of fibroblasts,
immune cells, and a dense network of collagen fibers. Tumor-associated macrophages are …

Keloid disorder, a group of fibroproliferative skin diseases, is characterized by unremitting
accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of connective tissue, primarily collagen, to …

The ability to maintain and differentiate cells in vitro is critical to many advances in the field
of bioengineering. However, on traditional, stiff (E≈ GPa) culture substrates, cells are …

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a common cell in the tumour microenvironment
with diverse tumour-promoting functions. Their presence in tumours is commonly associated …

Cells sense mechanical stress and changes in their matrix environment through the
integrins, a family of heterodimeric surface receptors that bind to extracellular matrix ligands …

The fibrotic process could be easily defined as a pathological excess of extracellular matrix
deposition, leading to disruption of tissue architecture and eventually loss of function; …

Diabetes-associated complications, such as retinopathy, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, and
atherosclerosis, the main consequences of long-term hyperglycemia, often lead to organ …

Both skin and oral mucosa are characterized by the presence of keratinized epithelium in
direct apposition to an underlying collagen-dense connective tissue. Despite significant …