In this webinar, you will learn how the extracellular matrix (ECM) acts as a dynamic microenvironment that guides cell behavior in 3D in vitro models. We explain how ECM composition, crosslinking, porosity, and viscoelasticity shape key processes like adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. You will also see real research examples that connect ECM mechanics to disease progression and show how to choose and screen ECM materials for more relevant, tissue specific, and patient derived models.
What you can expect?
- A clear explanation of ECM as a dynamic network, and why it is more than “just a scaffold”
- How stiffness, viscoelasticity, crosslinking density, and pore size influence cell behavior in 3D models
- Why ECM varies by tissue and disease state, and what that means for model design
- Practical comparisons of common ECM options, including decellularized matrices and natural or synthetic hydrogels
- Case study highlights showing how ECM mechanics relate to cancer, fibrosis, and metastatic niches
- How researchers use mechanical readouts alongside biochemical and imaging assays to understand the “right cocktail” for their model
