Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.03 | May 13 2010

Osteogenic Induction of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Electrospun Scaffolds with Dexamethasone Release Functionality
Electrospun structures were proposed as scaffolds owing to their morphological and structural similarities with the extracellular matrix found in many native tissues. Data suggests that the electrospun biodegradable nanofibers can be used as carriers for the sustained release of growth/differentiation factors relevant for bone tissue engineering strategies. [Biomaterials]

Building Organs Block by Block: Tissue Engineers Create a New Way to Assemble Artificial Tissues
Researchers have come up with a new way to get cells grown in a lab dish to form 3-D shapes instead of flat layers, by encapsulating living cells in cubes and arranging them into 3-D structures.  The new technique, dubbed “micromasonry,” employs a gel-like material that acts like concrete, binding the cell “bricks” together as it hardens. [Press release from PhysOrg discussing online prepublication in Advanced Materials]

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Micro-Masonry: Construction of 3D Structures by Microscale Self-Assembly
A biocompatible method for general construction of 3D structures by aggregation of micrometric polymeric subunits is presented. [Adv Mater]

Reactive Oxygen Species Control Senescence-Associated Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Through c-Jun-N-Terminal Kinase
Overall, these studies define redox-sensitive signaling networks regulating senescence-associated (SA) matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression and link the free radical theory of aging to initiation of aberrant matrix turnover. [J Cell Physiol]

Type I Collagen-Functionalized Supported Lipid Bilayer as a Cell Culture Platform
The biomimetic functionalized lipid system presented here is a simple, yet effective approach for constructing a cell culture platform to explore the interactions between extracellular matrix components and cells. [Biomacromolecules]

Biocompatibility of Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposited Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) Films for Biomimetic Replication of the Intestinal Basement Membrane
The ability for chemical vapor deposition of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) to coat and retain the complex architecture of the intestinal basement membrane at the micrometer scale was demonstrated using electron microscopy and surface chemical analysis. [Biomacromolecules]

In Vitro Mineralization by Preosteoblasts in Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) Inverse Opal Scaffolds Reinforced with Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles
The results suggest that the uniform pore structure and favorable surface properties could facilitate the uniform secretion of extracellular matrix from cells throughout the scaffold. The apatite-coated poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)/hydroxyapatite scaffold with uniform pore structure could be a promising material for bone tissue engineering. [Langmuir]

Altered Fibroblast Proteoglycan Production in COPD
This study explores the hypothesis that altered depositions of proteoglycans in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lungs, and in particular versican and perlecan, is a result of dysregulated fibroblast proteoglycan production. [Resp Res]

Oxygen Plasma-Treated Thermoresponsive Polymer Surfaces for Cell Sheet Engineering
The use of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in a cell sheet-polymer film complex conflicted with high stability in long-term storage and low cost. In the present study, to overcome these drawbacks, researchers employed the oxygen plasma treatment instead of using the ECM proteins. [Biotechnol Bioeng]

A Porous 3D Cell Culture Micro Device for Cell Migration Study
Porous polymeric materials are widely used to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) environment. In this paper researchers report a novel three dimensional cell culture device based on porous polymeric material to study cancer migration. [Biomed Microdevices]

Expression of Extracellular Matrix Proteins in Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Depends on the Donor Tooth Conditions
The aim of this study was to analyze the expression and distribution of proteins encountered in dental pulp extracellular matrix (type I collagen, fibronectin, and tenascin) in stem cells. [J Endodont]

Neural Differentiation Regulated By Biomimetic Surfaces Presenting Motifs of Extracellular Matrix Proteins
To elucidate the function of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on cell differentiation, researchers developed biomimetic surfaces that display specific ECM peptide motifs in a controlled manner. [J Biomed Mater Res A]

Mesoblast to Acquire Angioblast Systems Inc.
Australia’s regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited, announced that it will acquire its United States associate company, Angioblast Systems, Inc. [Mesoblast Limited  Press Release]

PolyMedix Initiates Phase 1B/2 Dose-Ranging Clinical Study With PMX-60056 to Reverse Heparin
PolyMedix, Inc. has initiated a Phase 1B/2 dose-ranging clinical study with its anticoagulant reversing agent, PMX-60056. [PolyMedix, Inc. Press Release]

CombiMatrix Corporation Reports First Quarter 2010 Financial Results
CombiMatrix Corporation reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010. [CombiMatrix Corporation Press Release]

Halozyme Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2010 Financial Results
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing products targeting the extracellular matrix for the endocrinology, oncology, dermatology and drug delivery markets, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Professor David Corr Receives NSF CAREER Award
David T. Corr, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has won a Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER) from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Corr will use the five-year, $449,999 award to further his research into the engineering, evaluation, and theoretical modeling of biological soft tissues. [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Press Release]

NSF to Ask Every Grant Applicant for Data Management Plan
Scientists seeking funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) will soon need to spell out how they plan to manage the data they hope to collect. It’s part of a broader move by NSF and other federal agencies to emphasize the importance of community access to data. [National Science Foundation, United States]

Montgomery Council Gives the Go-Ahead to ‘Science City’ Plan 
County officials hope the development, which could be two decades in the making, could position Montgomery as an international center for biosciences that would rival North Carolina’s Research Triangle or Palo Alto, Calif. The county is home to almost 300 biotech companies and institutions. [Montgomery County Council, United States]

Granholm Announces Stem Cell Public Education Day
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced at a press conference in Chicago that the World Stem Cell Summit will kick off with a free “Public Education Day” on October 3 at the Detroit Science Center. [Michigan, United States]

With Hung Parliament, British Scientists Wonder Who’s the Boss?
On May 7, 2010, Britain woke up to an uncertain political future-and British scientists continue to remain in the dark about how expected government funding cuts will slice into research efforts. [Parliament of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom]

Training Australian Scientists in Latest Stem Cell Discoveries
For the first time in Australia, young researchers will be trained in the techniques of growing and using human induced pluripotent stem cells in research. [Australian Stem Cell Centre, Australia]

Notice of Intent to Publish Request for Applications for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network Data Coordinating Center (U10) (NOT-HL-10-108)  [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Enhancing Peer Review: Expectation for Service on NIH Peer Review and Advisory Groups (NOT-OD-10-089) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Experimental Study of Patient Information Prototypes [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0184]  [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Mater Medical Research Institute (MMRI) Stem Cell Symposium 2010: Epigenetics, Transcriptomics and Nanobiotechnology of Stem Cells
May 20-21, 2010
Brisbane, Australia

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Meeting
May 23-26, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

Systems Biology of Stem Cells
May 24-25, 2010
Irvine, United States

International Scientific Symposium: Stem Cells in Biology and Disease
May 26-28, 2010
Lisbon, Portugal

American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) 56th Annual Conference
May 27-29, 2010
Baltimore, United States

46th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
June 4-8, 2010
Chicago, United States

The First Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Scientific Symposium
June 14, 2010
Los Angeles, United States

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

21st Meeting of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) 
June 26-29, 2010
Oslo, Norway

United Kingdom National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) Third Annual Scientific Conference
July 12-14, 2010
Nottingham, United Kingdom

2010 World Cancer Congress
August 18-21, 2010
Shenzhen, China

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Meeting – Advancing the Life Sciences
September 4-7, 2010
Barcelona, Spain

Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
September 13-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States 

15th Congress of the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO)
September 15-17, 2010
Bordeaux, France

9th Annual Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) World Congress
September 19-23, 2010
Sydney, Australia

35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress
October 8-12, 2010
Milan, Italy

Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2010
October 29-30, 2010
Leipzig, Germany

6th National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Conference
November 7-10, 2010
Liverpool, United Kingdom

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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