Advances in matrix engineering and matrix therapy driven by extracellular matrix mechanics

XIE Yizhou; LIU Zhaoxinru; XU Feng; WEI Zhao

doi:10.6052/1000-0992-25-029

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Xie Y Z, Liu Z X R, Xu F, Wei Z. Advances in matrix engineering and matrix therapy driven by extracellular matrix mechanics. Advances in Mechanics, in press doi: 10.6052/1000-0992-25-029

Citation:

Xie Y Z, Liu Z X R, Xu F, Wei Z. Advances in matrix engineering and matrix therapy driven by extracellular matrix mechanics. Advances in Mechanics, in press doi: 10.6052/1000-0992-25-029

Xie Y Z, Liu Z X R, Xu F, Wei Z. Advances in matrix engineering and matrix therapy driven by extracellular matrix mechanics. Advances in Mechanics, in press doi: 10.6052/1000-0992-25-029

Citation:

Xie Y Z, Liu Z X R, Xu F, Wei Z. Advances in matrix engineering and matrix therapy driven by extracellular matrix mechanics. Advances in Mechanics, in press doi: 10.6052/1000-0992-25-029

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Advances in matrix engineering and matrix therapy driven by extracellular matrix mechanics

doi: 10.6052/1000-0992-25-029 cstr: 32046.14.1000-0992-25-029

XIE Yizhou^{1, 2},
LIU Zhaoxinru^{1, 2},
XU Feng^{1, 2
,
,},
WEI Zhao^{1, 2
,
,}

1.
Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
2.
Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

More Information

Corresponding author: fengxu@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; weizhao@xjtu.edu.cn
Received Date: 2025-10-24
Accepted Date: 2025-12-29

Available Online: 2025-12-31

Abstract

Abstract

With the global aging population and high incidence of chronic diseases, major intractable conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, tumors, and diabetes have become primary challenges to public health and socioeconomic development worldwide. Their pathological processes are often accompanied by abnormal remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and disruption of mechanical homeostasis, rendering traditional treatments ineffective in reversing these conditions. Recent studies reveal that actively modulating the mechanical properties of the ECM through principles of materials science and engineering to precisely mediate cellular behavior can effectively activate endogenous tissue repair, significantly promoting tissue regeneration. This research strategy, termed force-materials science, involves actively designing materials to leverage force−structure−function relationships for proactive control of the mechanical environment within biological systems. Based on this concept, this paper proposes: systematically identifying the molecular composition of the ECM from a matrixomics perspective and deconstructing its mechanical information encoding; utilizing matrix biomechanics to understand cell−ECM interaction mechanisms and decipher pathological ECM “re-encoding” processes; and, grounded in deep understanding of the ECM’s mechanical microenvironment, exploring matrix engineering technologies for “de-encoding” abnormal ECM and restoring function by integrating matrix biomechanics principles, ultimately achieving the goal of matrix therapy for endogenous tissue repair. Specifically, this paper introduces the composition and dynamic coding of the ECM, systematically summarizes the physiological/pathological changes in abnormal ECM mechanical microenvironments, and emphasizes the proposal and construction of novel matrix engineering and therapeutic strategies based on molecular targeting and material reconstruction. These efforts aim to provide new theoretical foundations and innovative approaches for the intervention of major intractable diseases and the advancement of regenerative medicine.
- extracellular matrix,
- matrix mechanics,
- matrix mechanobiology,
- matrix therapy,
- matrix engineering

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References(163)

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