Engineering Extracellular Matrix (ECM)-Based Scaffold Biomaterials for Cancer Treatment

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Gene and Cell Therapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 64

Special Issue Editor

Cancer Biomaterials Engineering Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
Interests: extracellular matrix; cancer immunology; biomaterials scaffolds; cancer immunotherapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the non-cellular component of the tissue microenvironment and is made up of a complex network of proteins, polysaccharides, and various growth factors that provide structural support and biochemical cues to cells in the tissue to enable their proper growth and development. While the ECM has been extensively explored in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, its use as a biomaterial scaffold in cancer treatment, particularly cancer immunotherapy, is now a matter of significant interest.

Decellularized ECM is a naturally derived biomaterial that exhibits a high level of biocompatibility and possesses innate immunomodulatory properties that are different from those of synthetic biomaterials. These characteristics make the ECM an ideal biomaterial scaffold for engineered implantations that form a part of cancer treatment. This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research and innovative strategies for using engineered ECM biomaterials for cancer treatment. The key areas of focus for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, ECM-scaffold-based strategies for the infiltration and activation immune cells and the killing of tumor cells; ECM scaffolds or derived hydrogels for the localized and sustained delivery of immunomodulatory agents, checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, and other anticancer agents; and organoid and 3D culture systems that use ECM to better model tumor microenvironments and evaluate therapeutic responses in vitro. The aim is to bring together approaches from the fields of bioengineering, biomaterials, and cancer and to highlight how engineered ECM biomaterials can be leveraged to reshape the landscape of cancer therapy.

Dr. Sanjay Pal
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • extracellular matrix
  • biomaterials
  • immunomodulatory agents
  • cancer immunotherapy
  • sustained delivery
  • drug delivery
  • tumor modeling
  • 3D model
  • therapeutic response
  • decellularized ECM

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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