Biomaterials, differential survival

Both structural and signaling molecules play a deeisive role for further behavior of cells after contacting a biomaterial, i.e., switehing between eell proliferation and differentiation, survival or apoptosis and other functions [38-... 

In forensic taphonomy we are familiar with the concept of differential survival of biomaterials. Hair does not survive universally, suggesting that degradation or contamination will be variable in recovered hair fibers. As with many biomaterials, hair degradation occurs most rapidly immediately postdeposition. The progress of hair degradation is largely defined by variables within the depositional environment. Add to that burial environment the... 

Tatard VM, Sindji L, Branton JG, et al. Pharmacologically active microcarriers releasing glial cell line—derived neurotrophic factor survival and differentiation of embryonic dopaminergic neurons after grafting in hemiparkinsonian rats. Biomaterials 2007 28 1978-1988. 

Scanga VI, Goraltchouk A, Nussaiba N et al (2010) Biomaterials for neural-tissue engineering- chitosan supports the survival, migration, and differentiation of adult-derived neural stem and progenitor cells. Can J Chem 88 277-287... 

With the possibilities to use biomaterial to deliver factors locally, the strategy to combine the use of the biomaterial as carrier of transplanted cells and growth factors is obvious. Significant release of growth factors from such materials can be maintained for several months in vivo, as was shown for a PCLA scaffold coated with a silk fibroin matrix loaded with NT-3, carrying rat forebrain nemal stem cells (Tang et al., 2014). This combination lead to enhanced survival, neuronal differentiation, and functional recovery of the injured rat. 

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