Wound healing is a response to tissue damage that relies on a complex series of signaling events. Cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), keratinocytes, and fibroblasts orchestrate the molecular processes involved in closing and repairing wounded tissue, preventing infections and vulnerability to further damage. Researchers are interested in potential therapeutic applications of MSCs for wound healing, due to their regenerative capabilities and secretion of signaling molecules that regulate other tissue-repairing cells.1-3
In addition to different cell types, the tissue microenvironment plays an important role in wound healing. It provides a range of mechanical cues that affect cellular differentiation, viability, and aging. Replicating the mechanical properties of the tissue environment poses a challenge to studying wound healing in conventional 2D cell culture. Cells grown in a dish are often exposed to unnaturally stiff culture substrate, over-crowding, and continuous subculturing, which does not reflect the biological context of wound healing and ...
