Extracellular Matrix News Volume 2.11 | Mar 24 2011

Molecular Muscle: Small Parts of a Big Protein Play Key Roles in Building Tissues
Researchers systematically determined where tenascin-C and fibronectin bind together. They also identified small parts of tenascin-C, known as domains, that can bind to only one fibronectin fibril apiece. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Biological Chemistry]

Liquid Biomaterials Take Stem Cell Therapy to New Level
Researchers are investigating the possibilities of a biologically-engineered synthetic liquid polymer that would eliminate the need for further surgery by offering a one stop, permanent solution. [University of Bristol Press Release]

Cell Behavior on Protein Matrices Containing Laminin α1 Peptide AG73
Researchers applied bioactive laminin-derived peptides as an additive for collagen, laminin-111, and fibronectin matrices resulting in peptide/collagen, peptide/laminin-111, and peptide/fibronectin matrices. [Biomaterials]

Determinants of Laminin Polymerization Revealed by the Structure of the α5 Chain Amino-Terminal Region
The polymerization of laminin into a cell-associated network – a key step in basement membrane assembly – is mediated by the laminin amino-terminal domains at the tips of the three short arms of the laminin αβγ-heterotrimer. [EMBO Rep]

Identification of Novel and Distinct Binding Sites Within Tenascin-C for Soluble and Fibrillar Fibronectin
Data highlight the complexity of protein-protein binding, the importance of protein conformation on these interactions and the implications for the physiological assembly of complex 3D matrices. [J Biol Chem]

Injectable Peptide Nanofiber Hydrogel as Delivery Agent for Stem Cell Secretome
The shear thinning and recovery as observed by rheometry, as well as secretome absorption and release in vivo, demonstrate the potential of the nanofibrous multidomain peptide hydrogel as an injectable delivery agent. [Biomacromolecules]

Cancer Cell Invasion Is Enhanced by Applied Mechanical Stimulation
Researchers hypothesized that the mechanical forces produced by remodeling activities of cells in the tumor microenvironment contribute to the invasion efficiency of metastatic cells. [PLoS ONE]

Designing a Tubular Matrix of Oriented Collagen Fibrils for Tissue Engineering
Researchers introduce a novel, straightforward flow processing technique that fabricates a small-diameter tubular matrix constructed of anisotropic collagen fibrils. [Acta Biomater]

Modulation of Collagen II Fiber Formation in 3D Porous Scaffold Environments
Researchers extend their observations of collagen II fiber formation in 2D to develop an approach for the formation of a fibrillar collagen II network throughout surface-modified polylactide-co-glycolide porous scaffolds. [Acta Biomater]

Material and Mechanical Properties of Bones Deficient for Fibrillin-1 or Fibrillin-2 Microfibrils
Researchers report that deficiency of fibrillin-1 or fibrillin-2 microfibrils causes distinct changes in bone material and mechanical properties. [Matrix Biol]

Fiber Angle and Aspect Ratio Influence the Shear Mechanics of Oriented Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds
Findings show that aligned electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) scaffolds are a promising tool for engineering fibrocartilage tissues, and that the shear properties of both acellular and cell-seeded formulations can match or exceed native tissue benchmarks. [J Mech Behav Biomed Mater]

Identification of ETS-1 Target Genes in Human Fibroblasts
Findings identify several potential novel target genes of Ets-1, and they provide potentially important insights into the role of Ets-1 in stromal fibroblasts for both remodeling and different functionalities of the extracellular matrix. [Int J Oncol]

Computational Model for Migration of a Cell Cluster in Three-Dimensional Matrices
This paper presents a first forced-based dynamics computer model of a cell cluster moving collectively in a 3D environment mimicking the extracellular matrix. [Ann Biomed Eng]

Important Funding for Nanomedicine Research to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment
Seven new research projects on regenerative medicine and nanomedicine received $16 million in funding. [Canadian Institutes of Health Research Press Release]

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Board Approves 2011 Accelerator Program Loans for Early-Stage Companies
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center announced the awarding of $3.75 million in loans to five early-stage life sciences companies. [Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Press Release]

RegeneRx Phase II AMI Trial on Clinical Hold Due to GMP Compliance Issues at Contract Manufacturer
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has received a notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicating that, due to non-compliance with FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations by its contract manufacturer, the Company’s Phase II clinical trial of RGN-352, its injectable formulation of Thymosin beta 4 for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), has been placed on clinical hold. [RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]

UD’s Xinqiao Jia Recognized for Biomaterials Research
Xinqiao Jia, assistant professor in the University of Delaware’s (UD) Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Biological Sciences, is developing intelligent biomaterials that closely mimic the molecular composition, biological function, mechanical responsiveness and nanoscale organization of the natural matrices surrounding the cells. [University of Deleware Press Release]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)
 
European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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

Lab Technologist – Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies)

Assistant Professor (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering)

Field Applications Specialist – Cell Therapy (Medical) (Pall Corporation)

Postdoctoral Researcher Biophysics of Cell Attachment to Biomaterials (Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials)

Postdoctoral Researcher (University of California – Irvine)

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