The extracellular matrix (ECM) is vital for nourishment delivery to the cells and for waste disposal. The ECM changes during health, aging, acute injury, post-injury, chronic inflammation, and neoplasm. These changes impact the function of the ECM, which can have implications of the function of cells. Moreover, the negative charges on proteoglycans can hold positively charged heavy metal ions and serve as a reservoir for growth signaling molecules, keeping them in reserve in a “bound” versus “free” state.