Scl2 is a collagen-like protein that is easily expressed in E. coli. Scl2 lacks the requirement for post-translational modifications; this makes them a useful alternative to recombinant human collagen expressed in eukaryotic organisms.
Fibronectin is a glycoprotein found in the extracellular matrix. It binds to receptor proteins such as integrins, collagen, fibrin, and other proteins. Fibronectin plays a large role in cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation, and is crucial to wound healing. By integrating fibronectin into Scl2, scaffolds made of Scl2 can accommodate cells with fibronectin binding sites.
Integrin is a receptor protein that facilitates cell-to-cell interaction and the adhesion of cell cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. Since fibroblasts bind to integrin binding sites, the integration of integrin and Scl2 allows for a scaffold that can accommodate these types of cells.