The purpose of this investigation was to assess the potential of commercially available extracellular matrix proteins, as enhancers of human keratinocyte attachment and proliferation, with a view to their incorporation into a skin equivalent. The following substrates were studied: type I and type IV collagen, fibronectin, gelatin and laminin. Human keratinocytes were cultured in low-calcium, serum-free medium. The number of cells attached to each substrate, observed under phase-contrast inverted microscopy in randomly selected fields of view, were counted 2 h afterseeding. Measurements of growth rate and colony-forming efficiency were made at 24-h intervals. None of the substrates tested were found to have an effect significant enough to warrant further investigation or inclusion into skin equivalent.