Research overview
Focal adhesion contacts of primary rat osteoblasts plated for 24 h on titanium (blue-nuclei, red-vinculin, green-actin)
The investigations in the “Bone group” are focused on differentiation of osteoblasts in response to different biomaterials (coated metallic implants, polymers, cements).
From the cellular point of view, the biomaterial and its surface coating with components of the extracellular bone matrix (e. g. with collagens, glycosaminoglycans together with growth factors like bone morphogenetic proteins, transforming growth factor , etc.) is a special kind of artificial ECM which influences adhesion, outside-inside signal transduction, proliferation, differentiation, and mineralisation of osteoblasts as well as their communication with neighbour cells. For this purpose we are investigating gene expression, enzyme activity of ALP, protein concentration of soluble factors, and calcium content.
Our studies further concentrate on osteogenic differentiation of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). In particular we work toward (i) characterisation of osteogenic differentiation, and (ii) influence of donor variety, in vitro-aging and culture conditions on the quality of MSC-derived osteoblast-like cells.
| DFG www.trr67.de 2009-2017 |
Influence of artificial and native extracellular matrices on adhesion and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts |
| The generation of artificial extracellular matrices is a challenge for development of new biomaterials. These matrices influence adhesion and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and bone healing as well and can modulate the presentation of several mediators. Based on the composition of native bone, artificial extracellular matrices from collagen type I and glycosaminoglycans derivatives were used for in vitro investigations with mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts. |