Biomedical Materials Research Research Articles

Informatics Infrastructure for the Australian Neuroscience Community: The Multi-modal Australian ScienceS Imaging and Visualisation Environment and the Characterisation Virtual Laboratory

Informatics Infrastructure for the Australian Neuroscience Community: The Multi-modal Australian ScienceS Imaging and Visualisation Environment and the Characterisation Virtual Laboratory

MASSIVE: Applications in Neuroscience

MASSIVE: Applications in Neuroscience

Foreword

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied BiomaterialsVolume 101B, Issue 3 p. 399-399 Foreword Foreword Steven M. Kurtz Ph.D., Steven M. Kurtz Ph.D. Guest EditorSearch for more papers by this author Steven M. Kurtz Ph.D., Steven M. Kurtz Ph.D. Guest EditorSearch for more papers by this author First published: 26 February 2013 https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.32910Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume101B, Issue3April 2013Pages 399-399 RelatedInformation

Use of nerve conduits for peripheral nerve injury repair: A Web of Science-based literature analysis.

OBJECTIVE:To identify global research trends in the use of nerve conduits for peripheral nerve injury repair.DATA RETRIEVAL:Numerous basic and clinical studies on nerve conduits for peripheral nerve injury repair were performed between 2002–2011. We performed a bibliometric analysis of the institutions, authors, and hot topics in the field, from the Web of Science, using the key words peripheral nerve and conduit or tube.SELECTION CRITERIA:Inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed published articles on nerve conduits for peripheral nerve injury repair, indexed in the Web of Science; original research articles, reviews, meeting abstracts, proceedings papers, book chapters, editorial material, and news items. Exclusion criteria: articles requiring manual searching or telephone access; documents not published in the public domain; and several corrected papers.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:(a) Annual publication output; (b) publication type; (c) publication by research field; (d) publication by journal; (e) publication by funding agency; (f) publication by author; (g) publication by country and institution; (h) publications by institution in China; (i) most-cited papers.RESULTS:A total of 793 publications on the use of nerve conduits for peripheral nerve injury repair were retrieved from the Web of Science between 2002–2011. The number of publications gradually increased over the 10-year study period. Articles constituted the main type of publication. The most prolific journals were Biomaterials, Microsurgery, and Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. The National Natural Science Foundation of China supported 27 papers, more than any other funding agency. Of the 793 publications, almost half came from American and Chinese authors and institutions.CONCLUSION:Nerve conduits have been studied extensively for peripheral nerve regeneration; however, many problems remain in this field, which are difficult for researchers to reach a consensus.

BiotecVisions 2012, March

BiotecVisions 2012, March

Ultra‐small‐angle X‐ray scattering–X‐ray photon correlation spectroscopy studies of incipient structural changes in amorphous calcium phosphate‐based dental composites

The local structural changes in amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)-based dental composites were studied under isothermal conditions using both static, bulk measurement techniques and a recently developed methodology based on combined ultra-small angle X-ray scattering-X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (USAXS-XPCS), which permits a dynamic approach. While results from conventional bulk measurements do not show clear signs of structural change, USAXS-XPCS results reveal unambiguous evidence for local structural variations on a similar time scale to that of water loss in the ACP fillers. A thermal-expansion-based simulation indicates that thermal behavior alone does not account for the observed dynamics. Together, these results suggest that changes in the water content of ACP affect the composite morphology due to changes in ACP structure that occur without an amorphous-to-crystalline conversion. It is also noted that biomedical materials research could benefit greatly from USAXS-XPCS, a dynamic approach.

Multicore Assemblies Potentiate Magnetic Properties of Biomagnetic Nanoparticles

Biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that are both stable and amenable to chemical modification with targeting ligands continue to emerge as important materials in biomedical research.[1–5] MNPs provide an efficient contrast mechanism for biological targets; as most biological samples have intrinsically low magnetic susceptibility, only MNP-labeled objects will respond to external magnetic stimuli. Such properties have led to the widespread use of MNPs, for example, in cell sorting and bioseparation,[6, 7] medical diagnosis,[8–10] imaging,[11–14] and therapeutics.[15, 16]

Surface Modifications of Magnesium Alloys for Biomedical Applications

In recent years, research on magnesium (Mg) alloys had increased significantly for hard tissue replacement and stent application due to their outstanding advantages. Firstly, Mg alloys have mechanical properties similar to bone which avoid stress shielding. Secondly, they are biocompatible essential to the human metabolism as a factor for many enzymes. In addition, main degradation product Mg is an essential trace element for human enzymes. The most important reason is they are perfectly biodegradable in the body fluid. However, extremely high degradation rate, resulting in too rapid loss of mechanical strength in chloride containing environments limits their applications. Engineered artificial biomaterials with appropriate mechanical properties, surface chemistry, and surface topography are in a great demand. As the interaction between the cells and tissues with biomaterials at the tissue--implant interface is a surface phenomenon; surface properties play a major role in determining both the biological response to implants and the material response to the physiological condition. Therefore, the ability to modify the surface properties while preserve the bulk properties is important, and surface modification to form a hard, biocompatible and corrosion resistant modified layer have always been an interesting topic in biomaterials field. In this article, attempts are made to give an overview of the current research and development status of surface modification technologies of Mg alloys for biomedical materials research. Further, the advantages/disadvantages of the different methods and with regard to the most promising method for Mg alloys are discussed. Finally, the scientific challenges are proposed based on own research and the work of other scientists.

Wound healing PowerPoint presentations for introductory biomaterials education

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part AVolume 87A, Issue 4 p. 1112-1112 Editorial Wound healing PowerPoint presentations for introductory biomaterials education William M. Reichert Ph.D., William M. Reichert Ph.D. Director, Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281Search for more papers by this author William M. Reichert Ph.D., William M. Reichert Ph.D. Director, Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281Search for more papers by this author First published: 06 October 2008 https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.32267Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume87A, Issue415 December 2008Pages 1112-1112 RelatedInformation

A new feasible method for fibrinogen purification based on the affinity of Staphylococcus aureus clumping factor A to fibrinogen

Plasma fibrinogen participates in several physiological and pathological events thus becoming a useful studying material in biomedical research. Here we report a new convenient method for fibrinogen purification based on the affinity of Staphylococcus aureus clumping factor A to fibrinogen. Clumping factor A (ClfA) is a cell wall-anchored surface protein of S. aureus bacteria that binds with a high affinity to the fibrinogen γ chain C-terminus via a segment encompassing the residues 221–550. This activity of ClfA (ClfA 221–550) was produced in fusion to the C-terminus of glutathione– S-transferase (GST) with recombinant technology and used as an affinity ligand to capture plasma fibrinogen. GST–ClfA 221–550 fusion protein was immobilized onto the glutathione-conjugated beads packed in a plastic column by its GST part. Then, this affinity column was loaded with citrated and heparinized human plasma. After washing out unbound proteins, column-captured fibrinogen was specifically eluted down with a citrate buffer solution (50 mM, pH 5.6). Purified human fibrinogen exhibited the ability to support platelet adhesion and aggregation and formed fibrin clot by thrombin, indicating that ClfA 221–550-purified human fibrinogen is a functionally active product. We also found that both the rat and mouse fibrinogens could be purified as well as human fibrinogen with this method. By virtue of its simplicity and feasibility, ClfA 221–550-based method would be very useful to the investigators who need fibrinogen to perform their studies.

A Novel Mechanism of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Regulation by Notch

See related article, pages 1483–1491 The Notch family of receptors, Notch1 to -4, are heterodimer transmembrane proteins, consisting of an extracellular domain and a noncovalently linked intracellular domain (ICD). Upon interaction with the DSL family of proteins (Jagged, Delta-like) on neighboring cells, Notch undergoes proteolytic cleavage, which frees the ICD from the plasma membrane. This results in translocation of the ICD into the nucleus, where it forms a complex with the CSL family of transcriptional repressors (CBF1/RBP-Jk), removing the repression and allowing for target gene (Hes, Hey) transcription.1,2 Tissue distribution of the Notch proteins varies widely. Notch1 and -4 are predominantly endothelial, prominent in both arteries and veins, and present in all stages of development (embryonic to adult); the expression of Notch2 is typically confined to pulmonary endothelium, but Notch3 is primarily expressed in adult arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in large conduit, pulmonary, and systemic resistance arteries.3 This specific pattern of temporal and spatial distribution correlate to diverse functions of the Notch family in vascular development and physiology in vertebrates reported to date.4 In the cardiovascular system, Notch signaling plays a role in several aspects of vascular development, including vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, differentiation, vascular remodeling, and VSMC maturation. Notch1 and -4 signaling appears critical in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis during early development, when it interacts with vascular endothelial growth factor signaling to specify artery–vein differentiation of endothelial cells (ECs). Transgenic mice deficient for Notch1 fail to undergo embryonic angiogenic remodeling, and vascular development is arrested at the primitive undifferentiated plexus, resulting in an embryonic lethal phenotype. Notch2-null mutations likewise result in embryonic lethality characterized by multiple large and small vessel aneurysms. Notch4 deletion results in no obvious phenotypic alteration. Notch3−/− mice are viable; however, they fail to develop proper arterial VSMC phenotype, resulting in vein-like …

Epidermal growth factor receptor ligands and renal epithelial cell proliferation

a critical issue in understanding how the mammalian kidney responds to pathological states and nephrotoxic chemicals involves the identification of modulating agents, growth factors, and signaling pathways that regulate responses. Although some of the modulating agents identified, including

Novel composite nanoparticles based on glycidyl methacrylate‐derivatized dextrans and gelatin as new bone morphogenetic protein carrier

AbstractThis article has been retracted because the authors and editors of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A have agreed there is overlap with another article by the same group in the Journal of Controlled Release, 2006; 114(2):209–222.

What do we use: Platelet‐rich plasma or platelet‐leukocyte gel?

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part AVolume 85A, Issue 4 p. 1135-1136 Letter to the Editor What do we use: Platelet-rich plasma or platelet-leukocyte gel? Peter A.M. Everts, Corresponding Author Peter A.M. Everts everts@elive.nl Department of Peri-Operative Blood Management, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsDepartment of Peri-Operative Blood Management, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorAndré van Zundert, André van Zundert Department of Anesthesiology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorJacques P.A.M. Schönberger, Jacques P.A.M. Schönberger Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorRoger J.J. Devilee, Roger J.J. Devilee Department of Orthopedics, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorJohannes T.A. Knape, Johannes T.A. Knape Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this author Peter A.M. Everts, Corresponding Author Peter A.M. Everts everts@elive.nl Department of Peri-Operative Blood Management, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsDepartment of Peri-Operative Blood Management, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorAndré van Zundert, André van Zundert Department of Anesthesiology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorJacques P.A.M. Schönberger, Jacques P.A.M. Schönberger Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorRoger J.J. Devilee, Roger J.J. Devilee Department of Orthopedics, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorJohannes T.A. Knape, Johannes T.A. Knape Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this author First published: 28 September 2007 https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.31570Citations: 49Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume85A, Issue415 June 2008Pages 1135-1136 RelatedInformation

Intracellular renin-angiotensin system: the tip of the intracrine physiology iceberg

it is axiomatic that peptide hormones bind to cognate receptors on target cells, with the resultant generation of intracellular second messengers. Not as well known is the fact that a large and growing body of evidence indicates that extracellular signaling peptides, such as hormones and growth

Two Dimensional Histogram of X-Ray Microtomogrpahy and Its Application in Quantification of Ex Vivo Implants

Computerized X-ray microtomography (micro CT) is a powerful technique for imaging and quantification in biomedical materials research. Mapping of various tissue/implants in 3-dimension, which is not achievable with traditional histological slices, is particularly desirable in ex-vivo implant analysis. However, due to a variety of artifacts during image formation, especially the blurred interfaces due to the machine contrast transfer function and the partial volume effect, quantification based on traditional histograms is not accurate. In this work we propose a new 2-dimensional histogram and its application in the analysis of micro CT data of ex-vivo implants, which significantly improve the clarity of the definition of different phases and drastically reduced the artifacts of segmentation compared to conventional methods.

Effect of crystallinity of calcium phosphate nanoparticles on adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

The biomedical materials research community frequently accepts that amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) can be adsorbed and assimilated more readily by living organisms to produce new bone tissue than crystallized calcium phosphates such as hydroxyapatite (HAP). Previous studies also confirm that ACP has improved bioactivity compared to HAP since more adhesion and proliferation of osteogenic cells are observed on the ACP substrates. However, we note that the different size -effects of calcium phosphates are not taken into account in these studies and the used ACP are always smaller than the HAP. Our recent study reveals that the dimensions of nanoparticles are directly related to the bioactivities of calcium phosphates, e.g. the smaller nanocrystallites have a greater promotion effect on the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). In order to understand the influence of crystallinity of calcium phosphate on the osteogenic cells correctly, it is critical to use ACP and HAP nanoparticles which have the same size distribution in such comparisons. In the present work, ∼20 nm ACP and HAP particles are synthesized and the effects of crystallinity of calcium phosphates are studied. The adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of BMSCs are measured on ACP and HAP films, which are compared at the same size scale. It is surprising that more cells adsorb and proliferate on the film of well crystallized HAP than those on the ACP film. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay are also used to evaluate the differentiation of BMSCs. The results show that the differentiation of BMSCs to osteoblasts is promoted significantly by NanoHAP. The current experimental phenomena clearly demonstrate that the crystallized phase of calcium phosphate, HAP, provides a better substrate for BMSCs than the amorphous one, ACP, when the factor of size effect is removed. A new view on the relationship between the crystallinity of calcium phosphate and the responses of BMSCs indicates the importance of size and phase controls in the application of biomedical materials.

Editorial: Tissue Engineering: Perspectives, Challenges, and Future Directions

Editorial: Tissue Engineering: Perspectives, Challenges, and Future Directions

Gene expression profiling of single cells on large-scale oligonucleotide arrays

Over the last decade, important insights into the regulation of cellular responses to various stimuli were gained by global gene expression analyses of cell populations. More recently, specific cell functions and underlying regulatory networks of rare cells isolated from their natural environment moved to the center of attention. However, low cell numbers still hinder gene expression profiling of rare ex vivo material in biomedical research. Therefore, we developed a robust method for gene expression profiling of single cells on high-density oligonucleotide arrays with excellent coverage of low abundance transcripts. The protocol was extensively tested with freshly isolated single cells of very low mRNA content including single epithelial, mature and immature dendritic cells and hematopoietic stem cells. Quantitative PCR confirmed that the PCR-based global amplification method did not change the relative ratios of transcript abundance and unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the histogenetic origin of an individual cell is correctly reflected by the gene expression profile. Moreover, the gene expression data from dendritic cells demonstrate that cellular differentiation and pathway activation can be monitored in individual cells.

Consent and anonymization in research involving biobanks: differing terms and norms present serious barriers to an international framework.

Biological samples—such as tissues, blood and cells—are an increasingly important tool for research into human diseases and their genetic and physiological causes. To ease their storage and access, many of these samples are now stored in biobanks. The number of human biological samples in such collections amounted to several hundred million in 1999 in the USA alone—about one sample per US citizen (Eiseman, 2000; Azarow et al , 2003)—and is increasing rapidly. Three‐quarters of the clinical trials that drug companies submit to the US Food and Drug Administration (Rockville, MD, USA) for approval now include a provision for sampling and storing human tissue for future genetic analysis (Abbott, 2003). At the same time, there is a boom of population biobanks, as more and more countries establish new sample collections (Kaiser, 2002). Among the best known are: the Icelandic Health Sector Database; the Estonian Genome Project; the UK Biobank; the CARTaGENE Project in Quebec, Canada; the Banco Nacional de ADN in Spain; the International HapMap Project; and several US biobanks, such as the National Children's Study, the Marshfield Clinic's Personalized Medicine Research Project and the National Health and Nutrition Examinations Surveys. ![][1] This boom of biobanks has spawned a ‘boomlet’ of regulations and guidelines, which has created controversies, particularly about the importance and definition of informed consent. The consent of participants is usually required before biobank samples can be used in research, but the nature of this consent, and how it is obtained, vary widely. Many European guidelines take the view that general consent is acceptable to use samples for future, as yet unspecified, research projects; US and Canadian policy follows a more rigorous standard of consent. Until 2004, both Europe and the USA considered coded and linked anonymized samples—in which a code links the sample to its donor—as identifiable and therefore … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif