In vivo acoustic patterning of endothelial cells for tissue vascularization.

Strategies to fabricate microvascular networks that structurally and functionally mimic native microvessels are needed to address a host of clinical conditions associated with tissue ischemia. The objective of this work was to advance a novel ultrasound technology to fabricate complex, functional microvascular networks directly in vivo. Acoustic patterning utilizes forces within an ultrasound standing wave field (USWF) to organize cells or microparticles volumetrically into defined geometric assemblies.

Time- and Dose-Dependent Effects of Pulsed Ultrasound on Dermal Repair in Diabetic Mice.

Chronic wounds, including diabetic, leg and pressure ulcers, impose a significant health care burden worldwide. Some evidence indicates that ultrasound can enhance soft tissue repair. However, therapeutic responses vary among individuals, thereby limiting clinical translation.

A Matricryptic Conformation of the Integrin-Binding Domain of Fibronectin Regulates Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-Induced Intracellular Calcium Release.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling is dysregulated in a wide variety of diseases, making PDGF an attractive therapeutic target. However, PDGF also affects numerous signaling cascades essential for tissue homeostasis, limiting the development of PDGF-based therapies that lack adverse side-effects. Recent studies showed that fibroblast-mediated assembly of extracellular matrix (ECM) fibronectin fibrils attenuates PDGF-induced intracellular calcium release by selectively inhibiting phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activation while leaving other PDGF-mediated signaling cascades intact.

A Small Chimeric Fibronectin Fragment Accelerates Dermal Wound Repair in Diabetic Mice.

During wound repair, soluble fibronectin is converted into biologically active, insoluble fibrils via a cell-mediated process. This fibrillar, extracellular matrix (ECM) form of fibronectin stimulates cell processes critical to tissue repair. Nonhealing wounds show reduced levels of ECM fibronectin fibrils.

Fibronectin matrix mimetics promote full-thickness wound repair in diabetic mice.

During tissue repair, fibronectin is converted from a soluble, inactive form into biologically active extracellular matrix (ECM) fibrils through a cell-dependent process. ECM fibronectin promotes numerous cell processes that are critical to tissue repair and regulates the assembly of other proteins into the matrix. Nonhealing wounds show reduced levels of ECM fibronectin.

Detection of acoustic cavitation in the heart with microbubble contrast agents in vivo: a mechanism for ultrasound-induced arrhythmias.

Ultrasound fields can produce premature cardiac contractions under appropriate exposure conditions. The pressure threshold for ultrasound-induced premature contractions is significantly lowered when microbubble contrast agents are present in the vasculature. The objective of this study was to measure directly ultrasound-induced cavitation in the murine heart in vivo and correlate the occurrence of cavitation with the production of premature cardiac contractions.