Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.05 | May 27 2010

Surface-Initiated Assembly of Protein Nanofabrics
Fibronectin nanofabrics are highly extensible (>4-fold) and serve as scaffolds for engineering synchronously contracting, cardiac muscle; they demonstrate biofunctionality comparable to cell-generated extracellular matrix. [Nano Lett]

Derive iPSCs feeder-free* with mTeSR®1 by STEMCELL Technologies     *Sun et al., PNAS, September 2009. *Chan et al., Nature Biotechnology, October 2009.

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal)

Viral Fibroblast Growth Factor, Matrix Metalloproteases, and Caspases are Associated with Enhancing Systemic Infection by Baculoviruses
Researchers describe an elegant mechanism mediated by a baculovirus-encoded fibroblast growth factor that signals a previously undescribed stepwise cascade of protease activation wherein matrix metalloproteases activate effector caspases, leading to remodeling of basal lamina lining tracheal cells associated with the intestine and culminating in the establishment of efficient systemic infections. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Tetraspanin CD151 Regulates Growth of Mammary Epithelial Cells in Three-Dimensional Extracellular Matrix: Implication for Mammary Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Depletion of CD151 suppressed growth of HB2 cells, a nontumorigenic breast epithelial cell line, in 3D extracellular matrices and in Matrigel-based xenografts. [Cancer Res]

Dynamic Shape Changes of Extracellular Matrix-Producing Cells Drive Morphogenesis of Ball-And-Socket Joints in the Fly Leg
The results highlight the importance of dynamic cell behaviors in precise shaping of skeletal extracellular matrix architecture. [Development]

Bone Regeneration Mediated by Biomimetic Mineralization of a Nanofiber Matrix
Researchers report here on the use of self-assembling peptide nanostructured gels to promote bone regeneration that have the capacity to mineralize in biomimetic fashion. [Biomaterials]

Bioprinting Vessel-Like Constructs Using Hyaluronan Hydrogels Crosslinked with Tetrahedral Polyethylene Glycol Tetracrylates
Biofabrication of cell suspensions in tetra-acrylate derivative synthetic extracellular matrices demonstrates the feasibility of building bioartificial blood vessel-like constructs for research and potentially clinical uses. [Biomaterials]

Interconnected Macroporous Poly(Ethylene Glycol) (PEG) Cryogels as a Cell Scaffold for Cartilage Tissue Engineering
Results indicated that interconnected macroporous PEG cryogels successfully supported attachment, viability, proliferation, and biosynthetic activity of seeded chondrocytes. [Tissue Eng Part A]

Tissue Engineering by Molecular Disassembly and Reassembly: Biomimetic Retention of Mechanically Functional Aggrecan in Hydrogel
By altering the assembly of proteoglycan (PG) aggregates with hyaluronan with or without link proteins, which affects aggrecan retention, it may be possible to achieve the targeted levels of PG components in order to modulate the mechanical properties of the engineered construct for cartilage as well as other tissues containing PG and PG aggregates. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods]

An Effective Targeted Nanoglobular Manganese(II) Chelate Conjugate for Magnetic Resonance Molecular Imaging of Tumor Extracellular Matrix
In this study, a CLT1 peptide targeted G3 nanoglobular Mn(II)-DOTA monoamide conjugate was designed and synthesized as a targeted MRI contrast agent for molecular imaging of the fibrin-fibronectin complexes or oncofetal fibronectin in tumor stroma. [Mol Pharm]

Hyperglycemic Conditions Modulate Connective Tissue Reorganization by Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells through Stimulation of Hyaluronan Synthesis
High glucose concentration stimulated hyaluronan synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells and modulated their ability to reorganize collagen-rich matrix. [Glycobiology]

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

INDUSTRY NEWS

National Institute of Standards and Technology Will Use 3D Biotek’s 3D Scaffold Product as the Basis for a Reference Material
The National Institute of Standards and Technology will use 3D Biotek, LLC’s polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds, 3D Insert™ — PCL, as Reference 3D Tissue Scaffolds. [3D Biotek, LLC Press Release]

Kensey Nash Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for ECM Product, Meso BioMatrix Surgical Mesh
Kensey Nash Corporation announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its second extracellular matrix (ECM) product, the Meso BioMatrix™ product. [Kensey Nash Corporation Press Release]

McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Awarded $12 Million Contract to Support Human Studies of Novel Treatments for Battlefield Injuries and Scars
A two-year, $12 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Technology Transition (OTT) will jumpstart human trials of three innovative research programs that aim to replace scars and defects with healthy, functional tissues. [University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Press Release]

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Wins $2.45 Million Grant to Support Stem Cell Research
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and principal investigator Glenn Monastersky have been awarded a four-year $2.45 million grant from the New York Stem Cell Science Program of the Empire State Stem Cell Board. [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Press Release]

Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Announces 42 Projects for Funding
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission has completed its evaluation of the 141 applications in response to its three official Requests for Applications during the FY 2010 funding cycle. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Press Release]

HHMI Awards $79 Million for Science Education to Research Universities, Top Scientists
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) announced new grants totaling $79 million that will help universities strengthen undergraduate and precollege science education nationwide. [Howard Hughes Medical Institute Press Release]

Pfizer to Cut 6,000 Jobs, Close Eight Plants
Pfizer Inc. plans to eliminate 6,000 manufacturing jobs over the next 18 months to five years as it closes eight plants and reduces operations at six others. [St. Louis Business Journal] 

Government Unveils $1 Billion Biomedical Tax Credit
The Obama administration is offering $1 billion in seed money to small research firms in the hunt for promising medical breakthroughs. [Obama Administration, United States]

Obama Orders Review of Synthetic Biology
President Obama has asked his bioethics commission to study the implications of research describing the creation of a synthetic genome. [Obama Administration, United States]

NIH Set to Tighten Financial Rules for Researchers
After a wave of financial scandals over the past few years involving biomedical researchers, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) proposed far-reaching changes that would lead to tighter oversight of agency-funded extramural investigators and their institutions. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Dealing with Disputes over Regulation of Medicines – The Regulation of Medicines Review Panel
A new area on the MHRA website has been launched which is dedicated specifically to the Regulation of Medicines Review Panel. [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom]

$2.4 Million Boost for Biotechnology Research with India
Top scientists will receive funding for cutting-edge research into everything from bioenergy and biofuels to vaccines and medical diagnostics as part of a joint multi-million dollar program with India. [Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund, Australia]

Notice of Intent to Publish a New Funding Opportunity that will Reconfigure and Consolidate The Millennium Promise Awards: Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases Research Training Program (NCoD) (NOT-TW-10-457) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for Which Public Health Service Funding Is Sought and Responsible Prospective Contractors; Proposed Rule [Docket Number: NIH-2010-0001] [Health and Human Services Department, United States]
 

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