Abstract

Collagens and glycosaminoglycans，as major extracellular matrix molecules，widely exist in the dermis and many other tissues.After cross-linking，they form networks，similar to that in the extracellular matrix，exhibiting ideal properties in bioactivity，biocompatibility and biodegradation，which are superior to synthetic materials.For these，the materials have been extensively used in the bioengineering of skin equivalents，which have been approved for clinical use since many years ago.However，the materials have limitations in their stability of composition；the components of materials may vary among different batches.In addition，the materials may carry risks of transmitting animal-derived diseases.Biofunctional self-assembling peptides are new synthetic materials emerged in the past years.They are able to self-assembly to form networks similar to that in the extracellular matrix，thereby to support cell survival and growth.Importantly，the materials are advantageous in their stability of quality to animal derived materials，high biocompatibility，no toxicity after degradation，and plasticity in carrying biofunctional motifs to induce diverse cell signals.For these，the materials have been used extensively in the repair and regeneration of many tissues，and achieved impressive results，promising extensive clinical applications.In the future，if improvements can been made to the materials in reducing acidity during peptide self-assembly，and increasing the plasticity of peptide hydrogels in mechanical strength，the materials will have more extensive applications in cell therapy and tissue engineering.

随着多学科技术领域的突破与生物技术不断交叉融合，以生物材料和干细胞为主的组织工程和再生医学将成为未来人类生命科学及医学诊疗的新的突破口，为目前尚无有效治疗手段的组织器官缺损修复和重建带来希望。其中，生物支架材料将在这些疾病治疗中起到关键作用。生物支架材料将从简单的机械支持、物理桥梁及有限控制细胞和药物的传递工具发展成为能够诱导干细胞分化、调控细胞生长及增殖作用的载体-生物组织相互作用的生物学界面。模仿细胞外基质（ECM）的仿生支架材料将在组织再生领域大放异彩。

根据来源，仿生生物材料可以分为两大类，天然材料和合成材料。天然生物材料，如胶原蛋白、黏多糖和Matrigel等，因其存在的广泛性和内在的生物活性得到了研究人员的青睐。用于组织再生和修复的材料很多来源于纯化或改性的天然ECM。这些天然材料的化学组成和机械性能可以较好地与组织匹配，并且可以引发一系列复杂的生化信号。同时，天然材料通常可以在体内降解，降解产物温和易代谢。而合成材料，尤其是近些年快速兴起的功能自组装多肽材料，具有天然生物材料和合成生物材料的某些优点，在组织再生和组织工程领域具有广泛的应用空间。