Extracellular Matrix News Volume 10.30 | Aug 8 2019

TOP STORY

3D Bioprinting of Collagen to Rebuild Components of the Human Heart

Control of pH-driven gelation provides 20-micrometer filament resolution, a porous microstructure that enables rapid cellular infiltration and microvascularization, and mechanical strength for fabrication and perfusion of multiscale vasculature and tri-leaflet valves. [Science] Full Article | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Force-Dependent Regulation of KANK1-Talin Complex at Focal Adhesions

Complex stability measurements combined with cell biological experiments suggested that shear-force stretching promotes KANK1 localization to the periphery of focal adhesions. [Nano Lett] Abstract

Rapid Fabrication of Vascularized and Innervated Cell-Laden Bone Models with Biomimetic Intrafibrillar Collagen Mineralization

Researchers describe a biomimetic approach where a supersaturated calcium and phosphate medium was used in combination with a non-collagenous protein analog to direct the deposition of nanoscale apatite, both in the intra- and extrafibrillar spaces of collagen embedded with osteoprogenitor, vascular, and neural cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Editorial

Microporous Methacrylated Glycol Chitosan-Montmorillonite Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Bone Tissue Engineering

Scientists successfully nanoengineered an interconnected microporous networked photocrosslinkable chitosan in situ-forming hydrogel by introducing two-dimensional nanoclay particles with intercalation chemistry. The presence of the nanosilicates increased the Young’s modulus and stalled the degradation rate of the resulting hydrogels. [Nat Commun] Full Article

SFRPs Are Biphasic Modulators of Wnt-Signaling-Elicited Cancer Stem Cell Properties beyond Extracellular Control

Using an established CRISPR/Cas9 targeting promoters of secreted frizzled-related proteins (SFRPs) and targeting SFRPs transcript system, investigators found that nuclear SFRPs interacted with β-catenin and either promoted or suppressed TCF4 recruitment. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Heterogeneous Multi-Laminar Tissue Constructs as a Platform to Evaluate Aortic Valve Matrix-Dependent Pathogenicity

A 3D, laminar, filter paper-based cell culture system that was previously established as a method of analyzing valvular interstitial cell migration and protein expression was adapted for studying the impact of specific ECM proteins on cellular viability and calcification proclivity. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Electrical Stimulation Shifts Healing/Scarring towards Regeneration in a Rat Limb Amputation Model

The authors found that electrical stimulation caused differences in ECM deposition, with less condensed collagen fibrils, and modified macrophage response by changing the M1 to M2 macrophage ratio. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Paradoxical Role of Glypican-1 in Prostate Cancer Cell and Tumor Growth

Treatment of stromal cells with tumor conditioned media from PC-3 cells transfected with glypican-1 shRNA increased the expression of migration markers, endocrine/paracrine biomolecules, and extracellular matrix components. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Mini-Organo: A Rapid High-Throughput 3D Coculture Organotypic Assay for Oncology Screening and Drug Development

Scientists describe a modified 96-well organotypic assay, the “Mini-Organo,” which could be easily completed within five days. They demonstrated its application in a wide range of mouse and human cancer biology approaches including evaluation of stromal cell 3D ECM remodeling, 3D cancer cell invasion, and the assessment of efficacy of potential anticancer therapeutic targets. [Cancer Rep] Full Article

A System for Analog Control of Cell Culture Dynamics to Reveal Capabilities of Signaling Networks

Researchers monitored NF-κB activation in single cells exposed to dynamic cytokine stimulation and revealed context-dependent sensitivity and uncharacterized single-cell response classes distinct from persistent stimulation. [iScience] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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Evolution of Bioengineered Lung Models: Recent Advances and Challenges in Tissue Mimicry for Studying the Role of Mechanical Forces in Cell Biology

Investigators discuss the relevance of cyclic mechanical forces in lung biology, the physiological range for the key parameters of tissue stretch in the lung, and the currently available in vitro cell-stretching devices. [Adv Funct Mater] Abstract

Extracellular Matrix-Derived Biomaterials in Engineering Cell Function

The authors explore the use of biomaterials derived from naturally occurring ECM proteins and their derivatives in approaches that aim to regulate cell function. They focus primarily on recent advances in the fields of soft tissue, cardiac, and dermal repair, and explore the utilization of ECM proteins as biomaterials to engineer cell responses. [Biotechnol Adv] Abstract

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

Basilea Announces Positive Results of Phase III Target Study with Antibiotic Ceftobiprole in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI)

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. announced positive topline results for the Phase III TARGET study, evaluating ceftobiprole in the treatment of patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. [Basilea Pharmaceutica, Ltd.] Press Release

CollPlant is Developing 3D-Bioprinted Implants for Regeneration of Breast Tissue

CollPlant announced that it is developing 3D bioprinted implants for regeneration of breast tissue and has successfully produced first prototypes. [CollPlant, Ltd.] Press Release

USDA Labs’ Move to Kansas City Might Be Illegal

The US Department of Agriculture should have obtained approval from Congress before deciding to relocate two research facilities from Washington, DC, to Kansas City, a report by the agency’s inspector general finds. The USDA may have violated federal law because the Omnibus Act requires congressional approval before creating, canceling, or moving a project, according to The Kansas City Star. [The Scientist] Editorial

Novartis CEO: ‘We Tried to Do the Right Things’ in FDA Data Scandal

Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan on Wednesday defended his company’s decision to wait three months to tell authorities about falsified data submitted to the FDA, saying the company “tried to do the right things” in the process. He also said Novartis was now “in the process of exiting” a small number of scientists at AveXis, Novartis’ gene therapy business, who were “involved in these data inaccuracies.” [STAT News] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: NMR in Biological Mechanisms
June 21-24, 2020
Hannover, Germany

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (Karolinska Institute)

Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Matrix Biology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Interactions of ECM, Neurons and Glia in Psychiatric Symptoms (McLean Hospital)

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)

Faculty Positions – Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics (Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine)

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

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