Extracellular Matrix News

Smart Microneedles Regulate Reactive Oxygen Species and Deliver Matrix Metalloproteinases for Pathological Scar Treatment

June 3, 2026

[ACS Nano] To modulate the oxidative microenvironment and remodel the ECM, a smart microneedle capable of regulating reactive oxygen species and delivering matrix metalloproteinase functions was developed.

Artificial Self-Mineralized MSCs’ Niche Mimics Dynamic Variations of ECM Modulus during Osteogenesis for Rapid Bone Regeneration

June 3, 2026

[Biomaterials] The development of artificial scaffolds capable of providing dynamically evolving mineralized niches for mesenchymal stem cells remains challenging, and the underlying osteogenic mechanisms are still poorly understood. A hierarchical graphene-doped polymethyl methacrylate scaffold was fabricated via vapor-induced phase separation.

Mesangial Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrix Protein 1 Is Essential for Maintaining Mesangial Matrix Homeostasis and Glomerular Architecture

June 3, 2026

[Journal of the American Society of Nephrology] Researchers investigated the role of mesangial cell–derived ECM protein 1 in regulating mesangial matrix homeostasis and glomerular structure in mice.

Phosphorylation Remodels the Mitotic Centrosome Matrix to Generate Bipartite γ-Tubulin Complex Docking Sites

June 3, 2026

[Science Advances] Scientists showed that SPindle Defective-5) contains two regions, phospho-regulated γTuC binding region 1 (PRGB1) and PRGB2, that are each sufficient for polo-like kinase 1 phosphorylation–regulated γTuC binding.

Matrix Stiffness Promotes Corneal Fibrosis through the YAP/TAZ-β-Catenin Mechanotransduction Pathway: Proteomic and Functional Validation

June 3, 2026

[Acta Biomaterialia] Primary human corneal fibroblasts were cultured on hydrogels with varying stiffness. Label-free quantitative proteomics revealed that increased ECM stiffness triggered widespread proteomic reprogramming, with significant enrichment in pathways related to fibrosis, Hippo signaling, cytoskeletal remodeling, and glycolysis.

Injectable Matrix Metalloproteinase-Responsive Nanoparticle Hydrogel Scaffold for Sustained Local Drug Delivery in Fibrous Dysplasia

June 3, 2026

[Journal of Bone and Mineral Research] Investigators developed an injectable, sustained, and matrix metalloproteinase-responsive local drug delivery system by integrating triglycerol monostearate nanoparticles within a dynamically crosslinked hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel scaffold.

ZNF469 Drives TGF-β1/SMAD3-Mediated Extracellular Matrix Regulation in Pulmonary Fibrosis

June 3, 2026

[Biomolecules & Biomedicine] Given the established profibrotic role of zinc finger protein 469 (ZNF469) in other mesenchymal lineages, scientists investigated its function in lung fibroblasts using an integrated functional and transcriptomic approach.

Extracellular Matrix-Targeted Biomaterials and Nanocarriers for Pelvic-Floor Repair/Regeneration in Stress Urinary Incontinence: Local Modulation of the MMP/TIMP Axis and NF-B/MAPK-Linked Remodelling Programs

June 3, 2026

[Biomedical Materials] The authors frames stress urinary incontinence as a clinically relevant ECM-failure niche and synthesises ECM-targeted biomaterials and nanocarriers designed to rebalance the MMP/TIMP axis while enabling pragmatic pharmacodynamic readouts for early translation.

MannKind Enters Data-Rich Development Period with Completion of Randomization in Phase 1b INFLO-1 Study and Enrollment of First Patient in Phase 2 INFLO-2 Trial...

June 3, 2026

[MannKind Corporation] MannKind Corporation announced key clinical execution milestones in the development of nintedanib DPI for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), including the completion of patient randomization in the US Phase Ib INFLO-1 clinical trial and enrollment of the first patient in the global Phase II INFLO-2 study.

Smart Microneedles Regulate Reactive Oxygen Species and Deliver Matrix Metalloproteinases for Pathological Scar Treatment

May 20, 2026

[ACS Nano] To modulate the oxidative microenvironment and remodel the ECM, a smart microneedle capable of regulating reactive oxygen species and delivering matrix metalloproteinase functions was developed.

Multi-Omics Profiling of the Diabetic Human Heart Reveals Coupled Dysregulation in Lipid Metabolism, Mitophagy, and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling

May 20, 2026

[Genome Medicine] This human multi-omics study defines diabetic cardiomyopathy by the concurrent dysregulation of cardiac fuel metabolism, mitochondrial quality control, and matrix remodeling, offering novel mechanistic insights and highlighting acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1 and BNIP3L as potential therapeutic targets for diabetes-associated cardiac dysfunction.

Targeting LRRC15 in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Modifies the Extracellular Matrix and Enhances Tumor Immune Responses to Suppress Lung Cancer Progression

May 20, 2026

[Cancer Research] Researchers identified LRRC15⁺ cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) as a tumor-specific CAF subset in lung cancer and proposed LRRC15 as a potential therapeutic target.