The structure of fibrous collagen, a long triple helix that self-associates in a staggered array to form a matrix of fibrils, fibers and fiber bundles, makes it uniquely suitable as a scaffold for biomaterial engineering. A major challenge for this application is to stabilize collagen structure by means that are acceptable for the end use. The bovine type I collagen microfibril model, built by ...

The stiffness of the extracellular matrix can profoundly influence cell and tissue behaviors. Thus there is an emerging emphasis on understanding how matrix mechanical environments are established, regulated, and modified. Here we develop a microrheometric assay to measure the mechanical properties of a model extracellular matrix (type I collagen gel) and use it to explore cytokine-induced, cel...

Chondrocytes in specific areas of the chick sternum have different developmental fates. Cephalic chondrocytes become hypertrophic and secrete type X collagen into the extracellular matrix prior to bone deposition. Middle and caudal chondrocytes remain cartilaginous throughout development and continue to secrete collagen types II, IX, and XI. The interaction of integrin receptors with extracellu...

introduction: an investigation of bone, cartilage and fat differentiation potentials of canine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. materials and methods: bone marrow aspirates were obtained from 10 canine’s iliac crest under general anesthesia. each sample was separately loaded on lymphodex and centrifuged at 1200 rpm for ten minutes to obtain mononuclear cell fraction. 5×104 cell/cm2 o...

Cell interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) can regulate multiple cellular activities and the matrix itself in dynamic, bidirectional processes. One such process is local proteolytic modification of the ECM. Invadopodia of tumor cells are actin-rich proteolytic protrusions that locally degrade matrix molecules and mediate invasion. We report that a novel high-density fibrillar collage...

Matrix remodeling of cells is highly regulated by proteases and their inhibitors. Nevertheless, how would the chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) be affected, when the balance of the matrix remodeling is disturbed by inhibiting matrix proteases, is incompletely known. Using a previously developed collagen microencapsulation platform, we investigated whether exposing chondrogenically...

objective: finding cell sources for cartilage tissue engineering is a critical procedure. the purpose of the present experimental study was to test the in vitro efficacy of the beta-tricalcium phosphate-alginate-gelatin (btag) scaffold to induce chondrogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord blood-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells (usscs). materials and methods: in this experimental...

Type XIII collagen belongs to the group of transmembrane collagens. In this thesis the plasma membrane localisation and function of type XIII collagen have been studied using cell biological methods. Type XIII collagen was found to reside in focal adhesions. It appeared in these structures at a very early stage of their assembly and disappeared from them concurrently with focal adhesion protein...

BACKGROUND  Major thoracic wall resections require the implantation of foreign materials for reconstruction and stabilization. Recently, biological collagen matrixes have emerged as an alternative to the routinely used synthetic materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS  Retrospectively, we analyzed our initial experience of chest wall reconstruction on large defects using a cross-linked porcine derma...