Skin Extracellular Matrix and Basement Membrane
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 1267
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The purpose of this Special Issue is to focus on the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane in skin reconstruction and regeneration, with particular attention to their biological and clinical relevance in restoring damaged or diseased skin. In recent years, the ECM has come to be recognized not simply as a structural framework but as an active regulator of cell behavior, immune responses and tissue remodeling. Together with the basement membrane, it plays a central role in maintaining skin integrity and guiding the complex process of repair following injury, surgery or chronic disease. At the same time, advances in acellular dermal matrices and other ECM-based biomaterials have expanded therapeutic options for a wide range of clinical problems, including complex wounds, burns, radiation injury, chronic ulcers and pathological scarring. These developments raise important questions regarding how native ECM architecture can be preserved or reconstructed in ways that support true tissue regeneration rather than temporary defect coverage. This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and review papers that address, among others, the structural and functional roles of dermal ECM and basement membrane in skin repair; ECM remodeling in acute and chronic wound healing; fibrosis, hypertrophic scars and keloids viewed from an ECM perspective; clinical and experimental use of acellular dermal matrices and biologic scaffolds; the influence of mechanical forces and ECM on skin regeneration Interactions between ECM and the immune system during cutaneous repair; translational and clinical studies of ECM-based regenerative therapies as well as regulatory and safety issues related to human tissue-derived ECM products.
By bringing together basic science, tissue engineering and clinical reconstruction, this Special Issue aims to provide a focused and practical discussion for advancing ECM-centered approaches in cutaneous regenerative medicine.
Dr. Ju Hee Lee
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- extracellular matrix
- basement membrane
- skin regeneration
- cutaneous reconstruction
- acellular dermal matrix
- wound healing
- fibrosis
- scar
- skin aging
- biologic scaffold
- tissue repair
- regenerative dermatology
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