



@article {3298,
	title = {Effect of cell density on mesenchymal stem cells aggregation in RGD-alginate 3D matrices under osteoinductive conditions},
	journal = {Macromolecular Bioscience},
	volume = {14},
	year = {2014},
	note = {Cited By (since 1996):1Export Date: 21 November 2014},
	month = {2014},
	pages = {759 - 771},
	abstract = {Cellular activities in 3D are differentially affected by several matrix-intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This study highlights the relevance of optimizing initial cell densities when establishing 3D cultures for specific applications. Independently of the entrapping density, MSCs cultured within RGD-alginate hydrogels showed steady-state levels of metabolic activity and were in a nearly non-proliferative state, but recovered "normal" activity levels when retrieved from 3D matrices and re-cultured as monolayers. Importantly, high-densities promoted the establishment of cell-cell contacts with formation of multicellular clusters stabilized by endogenous ECM, and also stimulated MSCs osteogenic differentiation. These MSC-ECM microtissues may be used as building blocks for tissue engineering. {\textcopyright} 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH \& Co. KGaA, Weinheim.},
	keywords = {alginate hydrogels, encapsulation, Self-assembly, Tissue engineering},
	url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84902536382\&partnerID=40\&md5=d6659c40247c561753aca566f938d788},
	author = {Maia, F.R. and Louren{\c c}o, A.H. and Granja, P.L. and Gon{\c c}alves, R.M. and Barrias, C.C.}
}
@article {3296,
	title = {Hydrogel depots for local co-delivery of osteoinductive peptides and mesenchymal stem cells},
	journal = {Journal of Controlled Release},
	volume = {189},
	year = {2014},
	note = {Export Date: 21 November 2014},
	month = {2014},
	pages = {158 - 168},
	abstract = {The outcome of cell-based therapies can benefit from carefully designed cell carriers. A multifunctional injectable vehicle for the co-delivery of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and osteoinductive peptides is proposed, to specifically direct hMSCs osteogenic differentiation. The osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) inspired the design of two peptides, where the bioactive portion of OGP was flanked by a protease-sensitive linker, or its scrambled sequence, to provide faster and slower release rates, respectively. Peptides were fully characterized and chemically grafted to alginate. Both OGP analogs released bioactive fragments in vitro, at different kinetics, which stimulated hMSCs proliferation and osteogenesis. hMSCs-laden OGP-alginate hydrogels were tested at an ectopic site in a xenograft mouse model. After 4 weeks, OGP-alginate hydrogels were more degraded and colonized by vascularized connective tissue than the control (without OGP). hMSCs were able to proliferate, migrate outward the hydrogels, produce endogenous extracellular matrix and mineralize it. Moreover, OGP-groups stimulated hMSCs osteogenesis, as compared with the control. Overall, the ability of the proposed platform to direct the fate of transplanted hMSCs in loco was demonstrated, and OGP-releasing hydrogels emerged as a potentially useful system to promote bone regeneration. {\textcopyright} 2014 Elsevier B.V.},
	keywords = {Bone Regeneration, Co-delivery systems, Guided differentiation, Injectable alginate hydrogels, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Osteoinductive peptides},
	url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84904318888\&partnerID=40\&md5=5f671d3584c3b7fc785ffaf40c2f0b1d},
	author = {Maia, F.R. and Barbosa, M. and Gomes, D.B. and Vale, N. and Gomes, P. and Granja, P.L. and Barrias, C.C.}
}
@article {3297,
	title = {Matrix-driven formation of mesenchymal stem cell-extracellular matrix microtissues on soft alginate hydrogels},
	journal = {Acta Biomaterialia},
	volume = {10},
	year = {2014},
	note = {Cited By (since 1996):2Export Date: 21 November 2014},
	month = {2014},
	pages = {3197 - 3208},
	abstract = {Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be made to rearrange into microtissues in response to specific matrix cues, a process that depends on a balance between cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions. The effect of such cues, and especially their interplay, is still not fully understood, particularly in three-dimensional (3-D) systems. Here, the behaviour of human MSCs cultured within hydrogel matrices with tailored stiffness and composition was evaluated. MSC aggregation occurred only in more compliant matrices (G' <= 120 Pa), when compared to stiffer ones, both in the presence and in the absence of matrix-bound arginine-glycine-aspartic acid cell-adhesion ligands (RGD; 0, 100 and 200 μM). Fibronectin assembly stabilized cell-cell contacts within aggregates, even in non-adhesive matrices. However, MSCs were able to substantially contract the artificial matrix only when RGD was present. Moreover, compliant matrices facilitated cell proliferation and provided an environment conducive for MSC osteogenic differentiation, even without RGD. Cell interactions with the original matrix became less important as time progressed, while the de novo-produced extracellular matrix became a more critical determinant of cell fate. These data provide further insights into the mechanisms by which MSCs sense their microenvironment to organize into tissues, and provide new clues to the design of cell-instructive 3-D matrices. {\textcopyright} 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.},
	keywords = {cell aggregation, Cell traction, Cell-matrix interactions, Hydrogels, Viscoelastic properties},
	url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84901785690\&partnerID=40\&md5=3d3a11adce17a7f1be2a2bb5d4e51089},
	author = {Maia, F.R. and Fonseca, K.B. and Rodrigues, G. and Granja, P.L. and Barrias, C.C.}
}
@article {2876,
	title = {Enzymatic, physicochemical and biological properties of MMP-sensitive alginate hydrogels},
	journal = {Soft Matter},
	volume = {9},
	year = {2013},
	note = {Cited By (since 1996):1Export Date: 12 December 2013Source: Scopus},
	month = {2013///},
	pages = {3283 - 3292},
	url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84874428389\&partnerID=40\&md5=39d83a72fc608cc7f1c875e612421ff5},
	author = {Fonseca, K.B. and Maia, F.R. and Cruz, F.A. and Andrade, D. and Juliano, M.A. and Granja, P.L. and Barrias, C.C.}
}
@article {2838,
	title = {Functionalization of biomaterials with small osteoinductive moieties},
	journal = {Acta Biomaterialia},
	volume = {9},
	year = {2013},
	note = {Export Date: 12 December 2013Source: Scopus},
	month = {2013///},
	pages = {8773 - 8789},
	url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84885024380\&partnerID=40\&md5=a9ee12bc1c5789cd64861fd8201fc645},
	author = {Maia, F.R. and Bidarra, S.J. and Granja, P.L. and Barrias, C.C.}
}
