Extracellular Matrix News Volume 1.26 | Oct 28 2010

Boundary Crossing in Epithelial Wound Healing  
Results indicate that the overall wound closure rate is determined primarily by the rate at which cells cross the boundary between the artificial extracellular matrix protein and the matrix deposited under the cell sheet. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

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Researchers Identify Mechanism Behind Fibrotic Disorder
Researchers performed cell cultures on fibroblasts obtained from affected skin taken from patients with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. They found that the fibroblasts from these tissues were continually activated, and expressed an increased amount of collagen and other fibrotic proteins. [Press release from Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals discussing online prepublication in the American Journal of Pathology]

Synthetic FlexBone Could Help Speed Bone Transplant Recovery
Current synthetic substitutes for bone tissue grafts rarely possess the bone-like properties needed for successful grafting and are often difficult for surgeons to manipulate in the operating room. In response to these challenges, researchers have developed an easy-to-produce, inexpensive, synthetic bone material called FlexBone. [Press release from the University of Massachusetts Medical School discussing online prepublication in Tissue Engineering Part A]

Chitosan/Poly(Epsilon-Caprolactone) Blend Scaffolds for Cartilage Repair
Chitosan/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) blend 3D fiber-mesh scaffolds were studied as possible support structures for articular cartilage tissue repair. Cartilaginous extracellular matrix formation was observed in all formulations. [Biomaterials]
 
Nanofibrous Architecture of Silk Fibroin Scaffolds Prepared with a Mild Self-Assembly Process
Besides excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, a useful tissue engineering scaffold should provide suitable macropores and nanofibrous structure, similar to extracellular matrix, to induce desired cellular activities and to guide tissue regeneration. In the present study, a mild process to prepare porous and nanofibrous silk-based scaffolds from aqueous solution is described. [Biomaterials]

Biocompatibility and Osteogenesis of Biomimetic Bioglass-Collagen-Phosphatidylserine Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
Results demonstrate the usefulness of phosphatidylserine composited Bioglass-Collagen-Phosphatidylserine (BG-COL-PS) scaffolds for inducing enhanced bone formation. The BG-COL-PS scaffolds fulfill the basic requirements of bone tissue engineering scaffold and have the potential to be applied in orthopedic and reconstructive surgery. [Biomaterials]

Proteomic Analysis Identification of a Pattern of Shared Alterations in the Secretome of Dermal Fibroblasts from Systemic Sclerosis and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
The secretomes of both systemic sclerosis and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis fibroblasts display a pattern of shared changes compared with the normal fibroblast secretome. The differentially increased proteins reflect an activated fibroblast phenotype and may represent a specific “fibrosis signature” that can be used as a biomarker for fibrotic diseases. [Am J Pathol]

Elastomeric Osteoconductive Synthetic Scaffolds with Acquired Osteoinductivity Expedite the Repair of Critical Femoral Defects in Rats
FlexBone combines the dimensional stability and osteoconductivity of structural bone allografts with desirable surgical compressibility and acquired osteoinductivity in an easy-to-fabricate and scalable synthetic biomaterial. [Tissue Eng Part A]

Nanofiber Matrices Promote the Neuronal Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived-Neural Precursors In Vitro
Researchers cultured human neural precursors (NPs) derived from the NIH-approved embryonic stem line BGO1 on polycaprolactone fiber matrices of different diameter (i.e. nanofibers and microfibers) and orientation (i.e. aligned and random); fibers were coated with poly-L-ornithine/laminin to mimic the extracellular matrix and support the adhesion, viability and differentiation of NPs. [Tissue Eng Part A]

Microscale versus Nanoscale Scaffold Architecture for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Chondrogenesis
Micron-sized fibers with large pore structures and mechanical properties comparable to the cartilage extracellular matrix enhanced chondrogenesis, demonstrating architectural features as well as mechanical properties of electrospun fibrous scaffolds enhance differentiation. [Tissue Eng Part A]

Method for Decellularizing Skeletal Muscle without Detergents or Proteolytic Enzymes
Researchers sought to develop a novel method to decellularize skeletal muscle that maintains the native biochemical composition and structure of the extracellular matrix. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods]
 
Stiffening of Human Skin Fibroblasts with Age
Researchers found that fibroblasts from old donors exhibited an increase in rigidity of approximately 60% with respect to cells of the youngest donors. [Biophys J]

Type XVII Collagen (BP180) Can Function as a Cell-Matrix Adhesion Molecule via Binding to Laminin 332
Findings provide strong support for the hypothesis that cell surface collagen XVII can interact with laminin 332 and, together, participate in the adherence of a cell to the extracellular matrix. [Matrix Biol]

Sanofi-aventis Announces Expiration of Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period for Acquisition of Genzyme
Sanofi-aventis announced that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, applicable to Sanofi-aventis’ proposed acquisition of Genzyme Corporation has expired. [Sanofi-aventis Press Release]
 
Biomerix Corporation Signs Distribution Agreement with Medline Industries, Inc.
Biomerix Corporation announced that it has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Medline Industries, Inc. [Biomerix Corporation Press Release]
 
InVivo Therapeutics Announces Reverse Merger and $10.5 Million Private Offering
InVivo Therapeutics Corporation announced the successful completion of a reverse merger with InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp. [InVivo Therapeutics Corporation Press Release]

CIRM Funds $72 Million to Translate Basic Discoveries into New Therapies, Recruit Stem Cell Leaders to California
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved funding for 19 awards worth $67 million in its second round of awards designed to move good ideas out of the lab and into the clinic. [The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Press Release]

Over 400 Top Researchers Selected in the European Research Council’s Third Prestigious ‘Starting Grant’ Competition
The European Research Council is awarding some EUR 580 million to 427 early career top researchers in its competition for ‘Starting Grants’. Worth up to EUR 2 million each, the grants will enable them to carry out their pioneering ideas in any field of research, throughout Europe. [European Research Council Press Release]

Collagen Matrix, Inc. Expands Operations and Moves Corporate Headquarters to Oakland, New Jersey
Collagen Matrix, Inc., the leader in collagen- and mineral-based matrix engineering, announced that it is expanding its operations by the addition of a 28,000 sq. ft. facility at 15 Thornton Road, Oakland, New Jersey 07436. [PR Newswire]

Halozyme Therapeutics Announces Hiring of New Leadership for Business Development
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced that William F. Daly has joined the company as vice president of business development. [Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

NIH Recovery Act Grants to Foster Scientific Workforce Diversity
The National Institutes of Health has awarded six grants totaling approximately $12 million over three years through a new initiative aimed at fostering a diverse scientific workforce. [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
NIH Recovery Act Awards Enable Crucial Health Research Technologies
Thanks to the Recovery Act, more health scientists now will have access to state-of-the-art devices, the National Institutes of Health announced. Through its National Center for Research Resources, NIH has awarded $300 million in shared instrumentation grants. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

White House Science Office Sued Over ‘Scientific Integrity’ Docs
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility has filed a lawsuit seeking an explanation for why the Obama Administration is 18 months late on delivering its promised guidelines on scientific integrity for the federal government. [Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, United States]

Just a Flesh Wound? U.K. Science Budget Spared Deep Cuts
The U.K. government’s long-awaited Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) was released, and it calls for a flat science budget over the next 4 years. While inflationary costs mean that the budget will likely see a cut of about 10% in real terms over that period, this scenario is far less dramatic than rumored cuts of 20% to 30% in real cash. [HM Treasury, United Kingdom]
 
Secretarial Review and Publication of the Annual Report to Congress Submitted by the Contracted Consensus-Based Entity Regarding Performance Measurement (FR Doc. 2010-26795) [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]
 
Agency Emergency Information Collection Clearance Request for Public Comment (FR Doc. 2010-26753) [Department of Health and Human Services, United States]
 
Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
 
Guidelines for Use of Stored Specimens and Access to Ancillary Data and Proposed Cost Schedule: Stored Biologic Specimens and Ancillary Data From the Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP) (FR Doc. 2010-27183) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-27192) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-27185) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-27049) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-27040) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-27039) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26935) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26881) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26499) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26497) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26702) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26706) [National Institutes of Health, United States]
 
Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-27187) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

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