Extracellular Matrix News Volume 7.02 | Jan 21 2016

Application of Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrix in Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering
Based on the fact that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), just like Schwann cells, are adopted as support cells within a neural scaffold, scientists used BMSCs as parent cells to generate extracellular matrix for application in peripheral nerve tissue engineering. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract

Elasticity Modulation of Fibroblast-Derived Matrix for Endothelial Cell Vascular Morphogenesis and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation
Fibroblast-derived matrix was used as cell culture substrate and physically modified to investigate the influence of its biophysical properties changes on human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human mesenchymal stem cells behaviors in vitro. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Decellularization of Porcine Skeletal Muscle Extracellular Matrix for the Formulation of a Matrix Hydrogel: A Preliminary Study
Investigators aimed to optimize the decellularization process of porcine skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) and to formulate a matrix hydrogel scaffold. Five multi-step methods were used to generate acellular ECM from porcine skeletal muscle. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article

Extracellular Matrix Stiffness Controls VEGF Signaling and Processing in Endothelial Cells
Scientists hypothesized that extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness modifies vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF)-cell-matrix tethering leading to altered VEGF processing and signaling. The analyzed VEGF binding, internalization, and signaling as a function of substrate stiffness in endothelial cells cultured on fibronectin linked polyacrylamide gels. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

Secretome Profiling of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts Reveals Organization and Disassembly of Extracellular Matrix and Collagen Metabolic Process Signatures
Investigators searched for differences in the secretome of cancer-associated fibroblasts and normal oral fibroblasts using mass spectrometry-based proteomics and biological network analysis. Comparison of the secretome profiles revealed that upregulated proteins involved mainly in extracellular matrix organization and disassembly and collagen metabolism. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

Advanced Biomaterial Strategies to Transplant Preformed Micro-Tissue Engineered Neural Networks into the Brain
Investigators advanced micro-tissue engineering techniques to generate micro-tissue engineered neural networks consisting of discrete populations of mature primary cerebral cortical neurons spanned by long axonal fascicles encased in miniature hydrogel micro-columns. [J Neural Eng] Full Article | Press Release

Collagen Membranes Adsorb the Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor I Kinase-dependent Activity of Enamel Matrix Derivative
Scientists studied the ability of two collagen membranes and a collagen matrix to adsorb the activity intrinsic to enamel matrix derivative that provokes transforming growth factor-beta signaling in oral fibroblasts. [J Periodontol] Abstract

Natural Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds Recycled from Human Salivary Digests: A Morphometric Study
Researchers tested the hypothesis of preserving the ‘residual connective tissue’ remaining after mechanical and enzymatic release of cells from human submandibular gland biopsies (natural extracellular matrix scaffolds) to be used as recycled natural scaffolds. [Oral Dis] Abstract

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

FAU Receives NIH Grant to Develop Esophageal Cancer Stent
A bioengineer at Florida Atlantic University has received a $141,743 grant from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a novel biodegradable polymer stent that will be designed to prevent complications while at the same time serving as a drug delivery system for esophageal cancer therapy. [Florida Atlantic University] Press Release

Cells from Cow Knee Joints Used to Grow New Cartilage Tissue in Laboratory
In an effort to develop a method for cartilage tissue engineering, researchers at Umeå University successfully used cartilage cells from cow knee joints. By creating a successful method with conditions conducive to growing healthy cartilage tissue, the findings could help lead to a new treatment cure for osteoarthritis using stem cell-based tissue engineering. [Umeå University] Press Release

From our sponsor:
Webinar: Brent Reynolds on the identification and characterization of neural stem cells. Watch now.

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.

Postdoctoral Position – Cartilage Stem Cell Biology (Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology/Genome Engineering (Amgen, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Angiogenesis and Vascular Malformation (Karolinska Institutet)

Faculty Positions – Systems Biomedicine (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Cancer Bioengineering and Biology (University of Minnesota)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Ophthalmology Research (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Interactions between Innate Immunity and Extracellular Matrix in Joint Diseases (Lund University)

PhD Position – Cancer Research and Wound Healing (Technion, Israel Institute of Technology)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell Mechanobiology (Washington University in St. Louis)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.