CNT Reinforced Hybrid Microgels as Scaffold Materials for Cell Encapsulation Here, researchers present reinforced CNT-gelatin methacrylate hybrid as a biocompatible, cell-responsive hydrogel platform for creating cell-laden three dimensional constructs. [ACS Nano] Abstract BMP-2-Embedded Atelocollagen Scaffold for Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Cultured in the Medium Containing Insulin and Triiodothyronine – A New Protocol for Three Dimensional In Vitro Culture of Human Chondrocytes Researchers examined the in vitro cartilage regeneration of tissue-engineered pellets that consisted of human auricular chondrocytes and atelocollagen, and that were incubated in vitro under the stimulation with BMP-2, insulin and triiodothyronine. [Tissue Eng Part C Methods] Abstract Dystroglycan Promotes Filopodial Formation and Process Branching in Differentiating Oligodendroglia In the current study researchers report that the extracellular matrix receptor dystroglycan is necessary for laminin enhancement of filopodial formation, process outgrowth, and process branching in differentiating oligodendroglia. [J Neurochem] Abstract Increased Matrix Synthesis by Fibroblasts with Decreased Proliferation on Synthetic Chitosan-Gelatin Porous Structures Researchers investigated the influence of porous structures, hydrogels and membranes on the growth of normal human fibroblasts and their matrix production in a serum-free system. [Biotechnol Bioeng] Abstract Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Enhances Matrix Assembly during Chondrogenesis of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells To test the hypothesis that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein/thrombospondin-5 (COMP/TSP5) functions in the assembly of the extracellular matrix during cartilage morphogenesis, researchers have employed mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis in vitro as a model to examine the effects of COMP over-expression on neo-cartilage formation. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract Biophysicochemical Evaluation of Chitosan-Hydroxyapatite-Marine Sponge Collagen Composite for Bone Tissue Engineering Scientists’ observations suggest that novel chitosan-hydroxyapatite-marine sponge collagen composite scaffolds are promising biomaterials for matrix-based bone repair and bone augmentation. [J Biomed Mater Res A] Abstract Topographic Characterization and Protein Quantification of Esophageal Basement Membrane for Scaffold Design Reference in Tissue Engineering This study reports basement membrane’s basic topographic characters and quantification of structural and major proteins involving collagen IV, laminin, entactin, proteoglycans of porcine esophagus. [J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater] Abstract |