Peptide and protein presenting materials for tissue engineering

Tissue engineering aims to create new tissues and organs to replace those lost to disease, trauma, or congenital defects. However, considerable instruction must be given to the cells forming these new tissues if one is to create a tissue structurally and functionally similar to the native tissue. Materials are ideal for the local presentation of various peptides and proteins that can bind to cell surface receptors and regulate cell function. An overview of techniques to present peptides and proteins from materials, and the utility of these systems in engineering tissues in vitro and in vivo is presented.