The elastin matrix in tissue engineering and regeneration

The elastin matrix crucially confers mechanical strength, elasticity, organization and biological signaling to almost all connective tissues, which are matched to specific tissue biomechanical and functional requirements. However, elastin is often poorly restored during native tissue repair due to low elastin production and assembly by post-neonatal and mature cells. Consequently, interventional strategies towards tissue regeneration often incorporate exogenous elastin or promote the production of endogenous elastin, in order to mimic the composition, architecture, and function of native tissues. Current strategies include the use of decellularized elastin-containing tissue, synthetic tropoelastin or elastin-containing materials and approaches that stimulate de novo elastin deposition. This short review summarizes the functional roles of the elastin matrix, and recent methods that utilize this key extracellular matrix component for tissue repair.