Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.31 | Aug 15 2019

TOP STORY

Myocardial-Infarction-Responsive Smart Hydrogels Targeting Matrix Metalloproteinase for On-Demand Growth Factor Delivery

A dual functional myocardial infarction (MI)-responsive hydrogel was fabricated for on-demand drug delivery to promote angiogenesis and inhibit cardiac remodeling by targeting upregulated matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 after MI. [Adv Mater] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in a 3D In Vitro Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

To investigate the role of the cerebral vasculature in Alzheimer’s disease, a physiologically relevant 3D human neural cell culture microfluidic model was developed having a brain endothelial cell monolayer with a blood-brain barrier-like phenotype. [Adv Sci] Full Article | Press Release

CAF Hierarchy Driven by Pancreatic Cancer Cell p53-Status Creates a Pro-Metastatic and Chemoresistant Environment via Perlecan

Scientists revealed the existence of a p53-driven hierarchy, where cancer cells with a gain-of-function (GOF) mutant p53 educated a dominant population of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that established a pro-metastatic environment for GOF and null p53 cancer cells alike. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

High Stretchability, Strength, and Toughness of Living Cells Enabled by Hyperelastic Vimentin Intermediate Filaments

The authors identified that cytoskeletal vimentin intermediate filaments (VIFs) provide cells with a hyperelastic rubber-like network that regulated the essential mechanical properties of mammalian cells including stretchability, strength, resilience, and toughness. They showed that VIFs maintained cell integrity and viability under conditions involving extreme deformations. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Co-Chaperones TIMP2 and AHA1 Competitively Regulate Extracellular HSP90:Client MMP2 Activity and Matrix Proteolysis

Researchers report that the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP2) was a stress-inducible extracellular co-chaperone that bound to extracellular molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (eHSP90), increased eHSP90 binding to ATP, and inhibited its ATPase activity. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Dynamic Interactions between the Extracellular Matrix and Estrogen Activity in Progression of ER⁺ Breast Cancer

Investigators used an estrogen responsive syngeneic mouse model to interrogate how a COL1A1-enriched fibrotic ECM modulates integrated hormonal responses in cancer progression. [Oncogene] Abstract

Injectable Shape-Holding Collagen Hydrogel for Cell Encapsulation and Delivery Cross-linked Using Thiol-Michael Addition Click Reaction

The reported thiolated-collagen hydrogel cross-linked using thiol-Michael addition click reaction overcame most of the challenges in the injectable hydrogel design and was an excellent candidate for cell delivery in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Integrins Are Required for Synchronous Ommatidial Rotation in the Drosophila Eye Linking Planar Cell Polarity Signaling to the Extracellular Matrix

The authors demonstrated that integrins and components of the ECM were required during the planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling-regulated cell movement of ommatidial rotation in the Drosophila eye. The loss-of-function mutations of integrins or ECM components caused defects in rotation, with mutant clusters rotating asynchronously compared to wild-type clusters. [Open Biol] Full Article

Potential Role of Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein in the Modulation of Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Superoxide by Hypoxia

Researchers examined if changes in superoxide metabolism could be an important factor in a bovine pulmonary artery, organoid cultured under hypoxia for 48 hours. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

Multi-Foci Laser Microfabrication of 3D Polymeric Scaffolds for Stem Cell Expansion in Regenerative Medicine

A Live & Dead assay was performed on mesenchymal stem cells cultured into the Nichoid microstructures in order to verify that no difference in cell viability was present, compared to microstructures fabricated by a single focus. This parallel setup opened the possibility to obtain a much larger number of microstructured substrates, that are essential to test new stem cell-based therapies. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Assessing the Role of Surface Glycans of Extracellular Vesicles on Cellular Uptake

Scientists showed that glycans were key players in the tuning of extracellular vesicle uptake, through charge-based effects, direct glycan recognition or both, supporting glycoengineering as a toolkit for therapy development. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Biomimetic Hybrid Scaffold Consisting of Co-Electrospun Collagen and PLLCL for 3D Cell Culture

3D cell culture studies confirmed that presence of collagen in biomimetic hybrid scaffold have created a major impact on cell proliferation compared to conventional 2D systems on long-term, also cell viability increased with the increasing amount of collagen. [Int J Biol Macromol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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Nanoparticle-Biofilm Interactions: The Role of the EPS Matrix

Researchers discuss the application of nanoparticles as antibiofilm technologies with a special emphasis on the role of the EPS matrix in the physicochemical regulation of the nanoparticle-biofilm interaction. [Trends Microbiol] Abstract

Markers of Cancer Cell Invasion: Are They Good Enough?

Scientists summarize the current information about molecules such as extracellular matrix components, factors of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, proteases, cell adhesion, and actin cytoskeleton proteins involved in cell migration and invasion that could be used as invasive markers and discuss their advantages and limitations. [J Clin Med] Full Article

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

Anika Announces Successful Completion of First Human Surgical Procedure with Injectable HA-Based Bone Repair Therapy

Anika Therapeutics, Inc. announced the successful completion of the first human surgical procedure with its injectable hyaluronic acid (HA)-based bone repair therapy for the treatment of bone voids and other bone defects of the skeletal system caused by trauma or age-related degeneration. [Anika Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Lenus Therapeutics Announces the Result of Complete Wound Healing on the Index Lesion of the First Subject in an Ongoing Single-Masked Phase II Trial with RGN-137 Dermal Gel for Epidermolysis Bullosa

Lenus Therapeutics, LLC announced that it has confirmed complete wound healing of the index lesion of the first subject enrolled in its ongoing single-masked Phase II clinical trial with RGN-137 dermal gel for epidermolysis bullosa. [Lenus Therapeutics, LLC (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

UC Faculty Members Quit Cell Press Editorial Boards over Impasse with Publisher

Some of the University of California’s (UC’s) most prominent scientists have announced they will resign from editorial boards of Cell Press to protest the continuing impasse between its owner, publishing giant Elsevier, and UC over subscription costs and open access to articles. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Academia to FBI on Monitoring Chinese Scientists: “Tread Carefully”

Nearly two dozen higher education groups warn the government to be cautious when advising US research universities to keep an eye on students and faculty with ties to certain Chinese institutions. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Nanotechnology in Cancer: Engineering for Oncology
September 12-14, 2019
Cambridge, United Kingdom

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NEW Research Scientist – Intestinal Injury/Tissue Engineering (The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Bioengineering of 4D Scaffold Development (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Extracellular Matrix of Brain Vessels (Inserm)

Research Fellow – Lectin Biochemistry (University of Leeds)

Postdoctoral Fellow – ECM Remodeling & Cancer Invasion Research (Luxembourg Institute of Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Role of Collagen in Tissue Repair & Regeneration (University of Pennsylvania)

Research Lab Specialist – Tumor Microenvironment & Cell Behavior (University of Southern California)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Computational Modeling of Cell-Matrix Interactions (Washington University in St. Louis)

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