AuNP–Collagen Matrix with Localized Stiffness for Cardiac‐Tissue Engineering: Enhancing the Assembly of Intercalated Discs by β1‐Integrin‐Mediated Signaling

A schematic for the mechanism of accelerating the assembly of intercalated discs (IDs) in cardiac myocytes regulated by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is presented. AuNPs with local nanoscale stiffness in the substrate activate β1-integrin signaling, which mediates the activation of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and its downstream signal kinase by stimulating expression of the transcription factors GATA4 and MEF-2c.