Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.16 | Aug 19 2010

Bioengineered 3D Platform to Explore Cell-Extracellular Matrix Interactions and Drug Resistance of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells 
Researchers used a novel 3D culture concept to assess cell-matrix interactions implicated in carcinogenesis: a synthetic hydrogel matrix equipped with key biomimetic features, namely incorporated cell integrin-binding motifs (e.g. RGD peptides) and the ability of being degraded by cell-secreted proteases (e.g. matrix metalloproteases). [Biomaterials]

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)

Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase Protects Against Pulmonary Emphysema by Attenuating Oxidative Fragmentation of ECM
Extracellular superoxide dismutase attenuates emphysema and reduces oxidative fragmentation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in mouse lung. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]
 
A Hydrophobic Perfluoropolyether Elastomer as a Patternable Biomaterial for Cell Culture and Tissue Engineering
Based on the results perfluoropolyether is believed to be a suitable substrate for several biological applications. [Biomaterials]
 
Non-Destructive Label-Free Monitoring of Collagen Gel Remodeling Using Optical Coherence Tomography
Results suggest that the decrease in scattering anisotropy in the collagen-smooth muscle cell gels was due to matrix metalloproteinase activity that degrades collagen fibrils into smaller fragments. [Biomaterials]
 
Preparation of Three Dimensional Interconnected Macroporous Cellulosic Hydrogels for Soft Tissue Engineering
The re-hydrated gels demonstrate a combination of interconnected macroporosity, high water content and mechanical integrity to soft tissues. [Biomaterials]
 
Use of Magnetically Oriented Orthogonal Collagen Scaffolds for Hemi-Corneal Reconstruction and Regeneration
Researchers show that scaffolds consisting of orthogonally aligned multilayers of collagen fibrils prepared using a high magnetic field permit the reconstruction in vitro of human hemi-corneas (stroma + epithelium), using primary human keratocytes and limbal stem cell derived human keratinocytes. [Biomaterials]
 
The Role of Stiffness of Gelatin-Hydroxyphenylpropionic Acid Hydrogels Formed by Enzyme-Mediated Crosslinking on the Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell
It was found that the stiffness of the hydrogel strongly affected the cell attachment, focal adhesion, migration and proliferation rate of human mesenchymal stem cells. [Biomaterials]
 
Posttranscriptional Upregulation of Tsc-22 by Ybx1, a Target of miR-216a, Mediates TGF-Beta-Induced Collagen Expression in Kidney Cells
Results demonstrate that post-transcriptional regulation of Tsc-22 mediated through Ybx1, a microRNA-216a (miR-216a) target, plays a key role in transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-induced collagen type I alpha-2 in mesangial cells related to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. [J Biol Chem]

Characterization of Glycidyl Methacrylate – Crosslinked Hyaluronan (HA) Hydrogel Scaffolds Incorporating Elastogenic HA Oligomers
Results demonstrate that cell response to HA/HA oligomer mixture (HA-o) is not altered by their methacrylation and photo-crosslinking into a hydrogel and that HA-o incorporation into cell-encapsulating hydrogel scaffolds can be useful to enhance their production of elastic matrix structures in a 3D space, important to regenerating elastic tissues. [Acta Biomater]

Binding of the Fibronectin-Mimetic Peptide, PR_b, to Alpha(5)Beta(1) on Pig Islet Cells Increases Fibronectin Production and Facilitates Internalization of PR_b Functionalized Liposomes
Researchers investigated the ability of a fibronectin-mimetic peptide, PR_b, which specifically binds to the alpha(5)beta(1) integrin, to re-establish lost extracellular matrix around isolated pig islets and increase internalization of liposomes. [Langmuir]
 
3D Collagen Type I Matrix Inhibits the Antimigratory Effect of Doxorubicin
Researchers investigated whether the cell microenvironment can influence the antimigratory effect of an anthracycline drug, doxorubicin, when tumor cells are grown in a matrix of type I collagen, a 3D context which simulates a natural microenvironment. [Cancer Cell Int]
 
Effect of Process Conditions on the Growth of 3D Dermal-Equivalent Tissue Obtained by Micro Tissue Precursor Assembly
Results show that structural composition and mechanical features of the final 3D bioengineered tissue are strongly affected by the hydrodynamic environment and demonstrate that by optimizing culture conditions a 3D viable tissue with properties similar to that of native derma could be produced. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods]

International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Joins Forces with Roche and Genzyme to Launch Cell Therapy Industry Partnership
Many companies in the cell therapy regenerative medicine market including Roche, Genzyme, Athersys, Miltenyi Biotec, Hospira, Lonza and Life Technologies will join ISCT to launch a series of new initiatives that will create greater strategic alignment within the industry and drive late stage clinical development. [International Society for Cellular Therapy Press Release]

ASH Recommends Cross-Disciplinary Engagement to Advance Regenerative Medicine
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has developed specific recommendations to the scientific community and federal agencies to help propel collaborative research in regenerative medicine in order to make real strides in improving patient care. These recommendations were released in Blood. [American Society of Hematology Press Release]
 
Medtronic Signs Agreement to Acquire Osteotech
Medtronic Inc. and Osteotech, Inc. announced that the companies have signed a definitive agreement under which Medtronic will acquire Osteotech for $6.50 per share in cash for each share of Osteotech common stock. [Medtronic Inc. Press Release]
 
Proteonomix, Inc. Announces Joint Venture in the United Arab Emirates
Proteonomix, Inc. announced that it has executed a joint venture agreement with a group of investors that will create a new stem cell treatment and research facility in the United Arab Emirates. [Proteonomix, Inc. Press Release]

NSF Awards $3 Million Stem Cell Bio-Manufacturing Program to Georgia Tech
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $3 million to the Georgia Institute of Technology to fund a unique research program on stem cell bio-manufacturing. [Georgia Institute of Technology Press Release]

Halozyme Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent for rHuPH20 Enzyme Platform
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,767,429 claiming its proprietary recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme platform (rHuPH20). [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

Cytori Issued Celution® System Patent for Orthopedic and Spinal Disc Diseases
Cytori Therapeutics has received U.S. Patent No. 7,771,716 for Celution® System based methods of treating musculoskeletal disorders such as spinal disc disease. [Cytori Therapeutics Press Release]

Sanofi Seeks Efficiencies with New Model
Sanofi-aventis is dividing its vast resources into decentralized disease-based units, each with its own departments for research and development, regulatory affairs, marketing, and sales — a plan designed to identify promising drugs more quickly and weed out failures before spending billions on unsuccessful clinical trials. [The Boston Globe]

Enhancing Research in Regenerative Medicine
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) convened a working group of experts from the fields of hematopoietic stem cell biology, embryonic stem cells, transplantation biology, and gene therapy at the urging of the Committee on Government Affairs with the goal of developing a “white paper” to inform recommendations to ASH and appropriate parties at the National Institutes of Health about the need for additional research in the area of regenerative medicine. [Blood]

EMA and U.S. FDA Seek Potential Candidate Companies for Joint GMP Inspection Program
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America (U.S. FDA) continue to seek potential candidate companies for a joint GMP inspection pilot programmed for manufacturers of medicinal products. [European Medicines Agency, European Union]

New NIH Website Offers Easy Access to Information on Bone Health
A new web resource providing people with the latest science-based information on bone health and bone disease is available through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases – National Resource Center. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration (EUREKA) (R01) (RFA-GM-11-003) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Limited Pilot for National Institute of General Medical Sciences Legacy Community-Wide Scientific Resources (R24) (PAR-10-261) [National Institute of General Medical Sciences, United States]

NIH-RAID Updates on Program Scope and Procedures: Biologics Manufacture, Lead Selection, and Product Development Plans (NOT-RM-10-012) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Clarification of Eligible Institutions for PAR-10-221 (R01) and PAR-10-222 (R21): Biophysical and Biomechanical Aspects of Embryonic Development (NOT-HD-10-020) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Proposed Collection; Comment Request; NIH NCI Central Institutional Review Board (CIRB) Initiative (NCI) (FR Doc. 2010-20167) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-20287) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-20021) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Basic Research on Self-Regulation (R21) (RFA-AG-11-010) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Center for Research Resources; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-20014) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
7342.007 Addendum – Imported Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps) [Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States]

Comprehensive List of Guidance Documents at the Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-1998-N-0050] (formerly Docket No. 1998N-0046) [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

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

23rd European Conference on Biomaterials
September 11-15, 2010
Tampere, Finland

Hydra VI: The European Summer School on Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine
September 11-17, 2010
Hydra, Greece

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

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – Asia Pacific 2010
September 15-17, 2010
Sydney, Australia

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

Symposium on Advanced Wound Care
September 23-25, 2010
Anaheim, United States

4th International Conference on Biofabrication
October 4-6, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

bone-tec 2010 – International Bone-Tissue-Engineering Congress
October 7-10, 2010
Hannover, Germany

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

BioStar 2010 – 4th Congress on Regenerative Biology and Medicine
October 13-15, 2010
Stuttgart, Germany

American Society for Matrix Biology (ASMB) 2010 Biennial Meeting
October 24-27, 2010
Charleston, United States

Select Biosciences 2nd Annual Lab-on-a-Chip World Congress
October 28-29, 2010
San Diego, United States

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

NEW BioMalaysia 2010 Conference and Exhibition
November 2-4, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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

Select Biosciences 2nd International Forum on Stem Cells (2010 IFSC)
November 12-13, 2010
Tianjin, China

Medica 2010
November 17-20, 2010
Dusseldorf, Germany

Translational Excellence in Regenerative Medicine – Biophysical Stimuli and Mass Transport for Tissue Development
November 18-19, 2010
Lattrop, The Netherlands

First Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies (BSRT) PhD Symposium
December 1-3, 2010
Berlin, Germany

Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) – North America 2010 Annual Conference
December 5-8, 2010
Orlando, United States

50th Anniversary American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting
December 11-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

Epithelial Plasticity and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
January 21-26, 2011
Vancouver, Canada

Select Biosciences 5th Annual Stem Cells World Congress
January 24-25, 2011
San Diego, United States

Phacilitate 7th Annual Cell & Gene Therapy Forum 2011
January 24-26, 2011
Washington, DC, United States

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

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