Extracellular Matrix News Volume 8.32 | Aug 17 2017

TOP STORY

Injectable Tissue Patch Could Help Repair Damaged Organs

Researchers are mending broken hearts with an expanding tissue bandage a little smaller than a postage stamp. They developed a technique that lets them use a small needle to inject a repair patch, without the need to open up the chest cavity. [Press release from the University of Toronto discussing online prepublication in Nature Materials] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Designing Liposomes to Suppress Extracellular Matrix Expression to Enhance Drug Penetration and Pancreatic Tumor Therapy

By utilizing the matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2)-rich pathological environment, pirfenidone (PFD) loaded MMP-2 responsive peptide-hybrid liposomes specifically released PFD at the pancreatic tumor site and down-regulated the multiple components of ECM expressed by pancreatic stellate cells. [ACS Nano] Abstract

Native Extracellular Matrix-Derived Semipermeable, Optically Transparent, and Inexpensive Membrane Inserts for Microfluidic Cell Culture

Researchers describe a new type of cell culture membrane engineered from native ECM materials that are thin, semipermeable, optically transparent, and amenable to integration into microfluidic cell culture devices. [Lab Chip] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Impact of Extracellular Matrix on Engraftment and Maturation of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes in a Rat Myocardial Infarct Model

Scientists tested whether a hyaluronan-based hydrogel, HyStem, could be a substitute for Matrigel. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes diluted with HyStem alone, HyStem plus pro-survival factors, or a pro-survival cocktail with Matrigel, were transplanted into a rat model of acute myocardial infarction. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Exosomes from Embryonic Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate Osteoarthritis through Balancing Synthesis and Degradation of Cartilage Extracellular Matrix

Researchers found that intra-articular injection of embryonic stem cell-induced mesenchymal stem cells (ESC-MSCs) alleviated cartilage destruction and matrix degradation in the destabilization of the medial meniscus model. Further in vitro studies illustrated that this effect was exerted through ESC-MSC-derived exosomes. [Stem Cell Res Ther] Full Article

Recombinant Laminin Fragments Endowed with Collagen-Binding Activity: A Tool for Conferring Laminin-Like Cell-Adhesive Activity to Collagen Matrices

Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells were cultured on collagen-coated plates preloaded with collagen-binding domain-laminin-511 and its E8 fragments (CBD-LM511E8s). Although iPS cells did not attach or grow on collagen, they robustly proliferated on CBD-LM511E8-loaded collagen matrices, similar to the case with LM511E8-coated plates. [Matrix Biol] Abstract

Interaction of Munc18c and Syntaxin4 Facilitates Invadopodium Formation and Extracellular Matrix Invasion of Tumor Cells

The authors showed that Munc18c is required for SNARE protein syntaxin4 (Stx4)-mediated invadopodium formation and cell invasion. Biochemical and microscopic analyses revealed a physical association between Munc18c and Stx4, which was enhanced during invadopodium formation, and that reduced Munc18c expression decreases invadopodium formation. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy Differentiate Senescent from Proliferating Cells in a Human Dermal Fibroblast 3D Skin Model

Researchers studied the transition into senescence of human dermal fibroblasts in a three-dimensional (3D) human fibroblast-derived matrix. Senescent and proliferating cells were imaged by Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. [Analyst] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

A Novel Approach to Utilize Icariin as Icariin-Derived ECM on Small Intestinal Submucosa Scaffold for Bone Repair

Scientists developed a novel method to utilize icariin (Ic) as an Ic-derived osteoinductive ECM on small intestinal submucosa (SIS). The generated Ic-ECM-SIS scaffolds, as a natural construct, exhibited much better biocompatibility than Ic-SIS scaffolds generated by traditional drug delivery systems. [Ann Biomed Eng] Abstract

Tissue Engineered Extracellular Matrices (ECMs) in Urology: Evolution and Future Directions

Investigators evaluate and summarize the clinical potential of tissue engineered ECMs in reconstructive urology with emphasis on their long-term outcomes in urological clinical trials. [Surgeon] Abstract

Nuclear Matrix Metalloproteinases: Functions Resemble the Evolution from the Intracellular to the Extracellular Compartment

The authors summarize the nuclear localization mechanisms of matrix metalloproteinases and their functions in the nucleus such as apoptosis, tissue remodeling upon injury and cancer progression. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the extracellular matrix research field.

MiMedx Files with the FDA to Initiate Its Investigational New Drug Achilles Tendonitis Phase III Clinical Trial

MiMedx Group, Inc. announced that the company has filed with the FDA to initiate its Investigational New Drug Phase III Achilles Tendonitis clinical study. [MiMedx Group, Inc.] Press Release

Biostage Announces the Use of Its Esophageal Implant Product Candidate in a Patient

Biostage Inc. announced the use of Biostage’s Cellspan Esophageal Implant product candidate in a patient at a major U.S. hospital via an FDA-approved single-use expanded access application. [Biostage Inc.] Press Release

Trump’s First List of Science Priorities Ignores Climate—and Departs from His Own Budget Request

President Donald Trump has translated his campaign promise to “make America great again” into his administration’s first blueprint for federal investment in science and technology. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Budget Cuts Fuel Frustration among Japan’s Academics

Japan’s premier scientific research institution, RIKEN, turned 100 this year, and celebrated with a grand ceremony attended by the empress and emperor. But not everybody was in the mood to party. In the old days, RIKEN was known as a paradise for scientists because of its generous funding. No longer: as Japan cuts off funds in the face of continuing financial uncertainty, the cracks are starting to show. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research: Get Connected 6: Matrix in Fibrosis
October 9-10, 2017
Manchester, United Kingdom

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NEW Research Fellow – Discovery and Functionalization of Novel Peptides (Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School)

Research Officer – Matrix and Metastasis Group (Garvan Institute of Medical Research)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance (Tufts University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Stem Cells (Duke University Medical Center)

Tenure Track Position – Stem Cell Biology (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Professor/Associate Professor – Metabolomics (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cartilage Biology and Regenerative Medicine (University of Nebraska Medical Center)

Masters Student – Fabrication and Investigation of Nano-Bio Interfaces (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Cartilage Biology (University of Nebraska)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mechanobiology of Tissue Repair (St. Michael’s Hospital)

Assistant Professor – Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (Harvard University)

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