Intact extracellular matrix can be utilized for bio-integrated materials and tissue engineering

Although the organic macromolecules gelatin, collagen and pure non-collagenous protein have been utilized as biomaterials, intact extracellular matrix without cells has not yet been utilized. In order to investigate the possibility of using intact extracellular matrix as a novel biomaterial with bone-inductive activity, we analyzed the structure formed by cultured clonal MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts on the calcified surface of commercial pure titanium, after removal of the cells from the surface of the titanium. We found that extracellular matrix collagen fibers with attached non-collagenous protein grew at the surface of titanium, and that they were attached to calcified areas of titanium via a structure we called "anchor structure". Here, we show not only that a biomaterial consisting of titanium with attached intact extracellular matrix can be developed, but also that intact extracellular matrix can be extracted without osteoblasts for use in medical treatments. Furthermore, titanium with attached intact extracellular matrix could be applied to culture systems (by virtue of its tissue-inducing activity) and tissue engineering.