Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
05:33
Author Spotlight: Recreating Melanoma Complexity with Patient-Derived Organoids for Immunotherapy Evaluation
Published on: September 6, 2024
2.3K
Harnessing Phase Separation in the Extracellular Matrix: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Opportunities
Runhan Guo1, Jiayi Li1, Xuenan Wang2
1Institute of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cell and Biomedical Technology of Shandong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jining Medical University, Jining, China, jnmc.edu.cn.
Biomed Research International
|January 23, 2026
Summary
Phase separation influences extracellular matrix (ECM) organization and function, impacting tissue integrity. Targeting this phenomenon offers novel therapeutic strategies for ECM disorders and tissue regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- The extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucial for tissue integrity and cellular functions.
- Recent studies highlight the role of phase separation in ECM organization and component functionality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the implications of phase separation in ECM-related pathologies.
- To explore phase separation as a prospective therapeutic target for ECM disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on phase separation in the context of ECM.
- Analysis of ECM pathologies and potential therapeutic interventions.
- Exploration of biomimetic materials and drug delivery systems.
Main Results:
- Phase separation significantly impacts ECM spatial organization and cellular behavior.
- Dysregulation of phase separation is implicated in various ECM-related diseases.
- Phase separation presents a promising target for therapeutic strategies.
Conclusions:
- Manipulating phase separation can restore ECM equilibrium, aiding tissue repair and regeneration.
- Biomimetic materials and advanced drug delivery can leverage phase separation for enhanced therapies.
- Further research is vital for clinical translation of phase separation-based treatments for ECM disorders.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:42The Extracellular Matrix
88.3K
Overview
88.3K
01:29The Extracellular Matrix
12.0K
Overview
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...
12.0K
01:26Extracellular Matrix
5.3K
Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely packed with little or no extracellular space in between, connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix. This extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of fibrous proteins like collagen, elastin, and fibronectin in a ground substance consisting of interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans. The proteoglycans form a gel-like material in the spaces between cells and provide hydration, buffering, binding, and force...
5.3K
01:13Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
3.4K
In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
3.4K
02:39Phase Diagrams
49.5K
A phase diagram combines plots of pressure versus temperature for the liquid-gas, solid-liquid, and solid-gas phase-transition equilibria of a substance. These diagrams indicate the physical states that exist under specific conditions of pressure and temperature and also provide the pressure dependence of the phase-transition temperatures (melting points, sublimation points, boiling points). Regions or areas labeled solid, liquid, and gas represent single phases, while lines or curves represent...
49.5K
02:31Phase Transitions
22.8K
Whether solid, liquid, or gas, a substance's state depends on the order and arrangement of its particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Particles in the solid pack closely together, generally in a pattern. The particles vibrate about their fixed positions but do not move or squeeze past their neighbors. In liquids, although the particles are closely spaced, they are randomly arranged. The position of the particles are not fixed—that is, they are free to move past their neighbors to...
22.8K