Testimonials from Leading Research Institutions
"Self-assembling peptides have enabled defined 2D and 3D cell cultures of a broad range of vascular cell types... furthering the understanding of blood vessel formation and angiogenesis by providing a model that resembles the in vivo processes more closely, as shown by the decreased cell apoptosis, increased formation of capillary-like networks and the increased production of VEGF mRNA, as compared with other 3D models such as collagen I gel or Matrigel.”
—Daria A. Narmoneva, PhD, Asso Professor & former Fellow with Richard T. Lee, MD, Harvard Medical School
"The growth of epithelial cells on a chemically defined matrix, like PuraMatrix, will revolutionize how such 3D assays are conducted and will become a critical component of this increasing popular technique.”
—Jayanta Debnath, M.D., UCSF, Formerly with Joan Brugge Lab, Harvard Medical School
"Culturing hepatocytes on PuraMatrix led to formation of spheroids which recovered liver-specific functions such as urea and albumin synthesis more quickly, and exhibited higher cytochorome P450 function compared to the collagen sandwich method (up to 3 weeks). The 3-dimensional cell structures were formed by straightforward plating on top of the PuraMatrix and cells could be easily analyzed by immunofluorescent staining and biochemical methods. We feel that PuraMatrix provides an ideal defined substrate for improved hepatocyte culture that resembles in vivo processes more closely."
—Deepak Nagrath, Ph.D., Martin Yarmush M.D., Harvard Medical School
"My body of work suggests that PuraMatrix holds potential as an
ideal synthetic biomimetic nanofibrous scaffold for clinically- focused tissue engineering and osteochondral graft integration."
—Robert Mauck, PhD, UPenn, Formerly with Rocky Tuan's NIAMS NIH Cartilage Biology Lab
“Our lab has placed a high priority on creating defined reproducible in vivo-like cell-based assays which can distinguish normal and malignant breast epithelial cells and PuraMatrix has worked well to recapitulate most of these phenotypic distinctions.”
—Connie Myers, PhD, Mina Bissell Lab, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs
“PuraMatrix has worked very well, allowing our lab to create defined cancer proliferation assays and forming 3-D structures over a 14 day period.”
—Margaret Ptaszynska, MD, Lance Liotta Lab, National Cancer Institute NCI Center for Cancer Research
"PuraMatrix serves as an ideal three-dimensional scaffold for chondrocyte culture and cartilage tissue engineering. Encapsulated cells maintain their phenotype and exhibit high levels of biosynthesis in culture. The low concentration of the peptide nanofiber network permitted high expression and even distribution of extracellular matrix throughout the hydrogel, resulting in the accumulation of a continuous neo-tissue capable of supporting mechanical loads."
— John Kisiday, PhD
Orthopedic Research Center Colorado State University
"PuraMatrix has worked well in the Duncan lab for cultivating uncultivable bacteria. The 3-D cell structure formation, clear visualization, and molecular biology testing have shown that this is the best system to use for culturing bacteria which were previously uncultivable. The easy recovery of the cells and DNA is also an added bonus."
— Afshin Beheshti, PhD, The Forsyth Institute, Harvard University
Ordering PuraMatrix™ Nanofiber Scaffolds
PuraMatrix is now in use at the majority of pharmaceutical companies and large biotech labs as well as many academic laboratories. PuraMatrix is provided in 5ml vials of 1% weight/volume concentration in water to form the hydrogel and is sold by BD Biosciences, Inc. as BD PuraMatrix.
Medical Device & Clinical Development
3DM is developing clinical products in orthopedic and cardiac medical devices in collaboration with many of the top medical device and regenerative medicine labs in the world. 3DM will submit regulatory filings for its first products in 2008.
Our materials’ superior performance stems from its composition, which yields an ideal biomaterial – synthetic and clinically-compatible, yet able to mimic the important biological functions for cell culture and regenerative healing.
PuraMatrix Hydrogels can be used in a broad array of medical device applications -- in combination with other devices and therapeutics -- as injectable and biodegradable tissue fill, drug delivery polymer and implant coating, and stem cell therapy delivery vehicle. A wide variety of cell types grow well within PuraMatrix in vitro, and many of those also translate into normal tissue growth in vivo, with applications in orthopedics, reconstructive surgery, periodontal surgery, opthalmic implants, neurosurgery, vascular and cardiac therapies.
3DM is working with leading clinical research institutes and corporations on ground-breaking tissue repair and regenerative medicine procedures and protocols, providing a short-term resorbable scaffold which enhances and accelerates tissue ingrowth and repair. We can quickly provide a wide variety of biocompatibility, safety, and toxicity testing data along with general and application-specific protocols. Please contact 3DM at info@puramatrix.com for partnership opportunities and collaborative testing.
Product Line
PuraMatrix™ Synthetic Peptide Hydrogels
PuraMatrix™ peptide gels serve as a synthetic 3-Dimensional extracellular matrix cell culture gel, in combination with typical cell culture media, serum, growth factors, and cytokines. Our research-grade product is sold in 1 ml and 5 ml vials as well as bulk quantities.
PuraMatrixHC™ High Concentration Gels
PuraMatrixHC™ is a thicker gel version with improved tissue retention and therapeutic delivery properties. This version is able to withstand physical loading in combination with cell culture and tissue engineering applications. Contact 3DM directly at orders@puramatrix.com
PuraMatrix™ with new functionalities
Functionally nodified peptides are also available. The products are composed of two domains, self-assembling domain(PuraMatrix™ sequence )and functional motif to improve cell adhesion, cell migration in 3-D culture. 3DM is now providing four of them with, repeated RGDS motif in fibronectin, cell adhesion motif in laminin, bone marrow homing factor, and new sequence, Ac-(KLDL)3-NH2. More on PuraMatrix™ with new functionalities.
PuraMatrixGMP™ Clinical-Grade Gels
PuraMatrixGMP™ is produced to meet the exacting clinical-grade quality for orthopedics, bioproduction, and drug delivery. For evaluations, please contact 3DM directly at orders@puramatrix.com.
Those interested in purchasing or testing high concentration gels and clinical-grade products for bioproduction, medical device, or therapeutic delivery applications should contact 3DM at 1-877-430-9595 or orders@puramatrix.com.
Technological Advantages:
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Benefits of 3D in vitro cell culture & cell structures with the ease of 2D plating
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Enables accelerated healing/regeneration – quicker resorption in vivo while allowing tissue ingrowth
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Nanofiber self-assembly –1st synthetic nano-scale scaffolds able to replace native ECM
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Biocompatible & non-immunogenic – low concentration (1-3%) of amino acids in water
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Synthetic origin – solves reproducibility, sterility, disease risk and regulatory concerns
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Radiolucent – allows noninvasive radiographic measurement of bone regeneration
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Compatible & easily combined with surgical tools, implants, therapeutics
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Bioactive customization – add bioactive motifs for specific biological response
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Regulated as medical device – structural scaffold, clean tox & biocompatability
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Intellectual property – strong granted patents enable patent work-around for combination products
- Cell Based Assays
- Cell Invasion and Migration Assays
- Angiogenesis Assays
- Neurite Outgrowth Assays
- ADME/Tox Screening, Hepatocyte Induction & Function Screening
- Protein Stability Assays
- Organotypic & Tissue Based Models
- In Vivo Mouse Tumor Formation & Plug Assays
- Orthopedic Bone & Cartilage Defect Fill
- Injectable Protein & Drug Delivery
- Allograft and Autograft Delivery
- Cartilage Defect Fill
- Soft-Tissue Filler
- Enhanced Implant / Tissue Interface and Ingrowth
- Cell Therapy Production In Closed Sterile Systems
- Cell Therapy Delivery Via Gel Injection
- Cell Bioproduction Microcarriers
- Bioreactor Cell Culture
- Tissue Engineering
Usage Protocols
PuraMatrix™ Guidelines for Use
PuraMatrix™ & Insert 3-D Cell Encapsulation
PuraMatrix™ & In Vivo Delivery
Applications
Drug
Discovery Assays:
Clinical Therapies & Bioproduction:
Attributes & Comparison of PuraMatrix™ to Other Scaffolds
| Attributes | PuraMatrix™ Synthetic ECM |
Natural ECM |
Synthetic Scaffolds |
PuraMatrix™ Advantages |
| Scaffold Properties | Defined, Consistent, Bare ECM Analog. |
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| Composition: | Patented 16 mer peptide in 0.5-1.0% w/v | Collagen, fibronectin, cadaver tissue, basement membranes | PLA, PLGA, carbon fiber, calcium phosphate | Animal-free, reproducible cell culture & cell signaling |
| Fiber Size: | 7-10 nm diameter | 5-10 nm diameter | 10,000-100,000 nm looks 2D relative to cell | Approximates in vivo ECM nano-scale |
| Pore Size: | 50-400 nm | 50-400 nm | 20,000-1x106nanometers | Encapsulates like ECM |
| Water Content: | 99.5-99.9% | 80-97% | 60-80% | Better hydration & nutrient diffusion |
| Mechanical Strength: | Low to med, cells can migrate within it | Low to med | Med to High | More rapid ingrowth, breakdown |
| Cell Encapsulation & Handling | Stable. Injectable. Customizable. | |||
| Scaffold Formation: | Fibers and gel form around cells with simple addition of culture media or injection in vivo | Require refrigeration or complex processing | Preformed scaffolds tough to seed with cells | Superior encapsulation allows cells to create own microenvironments and surrounding ECM |
| Combination with Bioactives: | Bioactives, ECM proteins can be added for tailored reproducible 3D cultures | Inconsistent levels of proteins & GF | Yes, but not true microenvironments | Enables consistent, defined ECM microenvironments |
| Allows Cell Attachment, Migration, Angiogenesis: | Yes, enables anchorage dependent cell culture | Yes | No | Allows cell-cell interactions, migration and invasion assays |
| Sterilization: | Gamma irradiation or pre-gelled filter sterilization in situ | No | No gamma, often limited to ethylene oxide | Able to use gold standard sterilization, and filter sterilize in situ if needed |
| Injectable: | Yes, will not swell beyond injected volume | Yes | No | Injectable along with cells, yet gel forms upon introduction in vivo |
| Clinical Cell Culture: | Sterility (gamma irradiation) and injectability enables closed system culture for bioproduction and clinical cell expansion | Animal components discouraged by FDA | Often hard to sterilize via gamma irradiation | Gold standard sterility, combined with injectability and easy handling |
| Stability: | Shelf stable at room temperature and across broad temperature range for at least two years. | Natural product requires refrigeration with short shelf life | Shelf stable only while dry | Ideal stability independent of water content |
| Cell Recovery & Analysis | Research & clinical compatibility. | |||
| Microscopy: | Transparent | Often cloudy | Often opaque | Easy visualization |
| Cell Recovery: | Spin cells out, wash, replate or re-encapsulate | Trypsin, collagenase | Hard to recover cells without disruption | Easy cell recovery |
| Molecular Biology: | Protein monomer simple to distinguish | Composition creates background | Not compatible | Straightforward Westerns, Southerns, Northerns |
| Flow Cytometry: | Compatible | Must separate | Not compatible | Compatible |
| Closed System Recover: | Compatible | Sometimes | Not compatible | Requirement for clinical and bioproduction apps |
| Biocompatibility | Superior in vivo. Rigorously tested. | |||
| Non-immunogenic: | No discernable antibodies, foreign body response, chronic inflammation | More immune response and inflammation | Foreign body response, scarring, acidic breakdown | Superior in direct comparison studies |
| Biodegradeable: | Yes, rapid | Yes | Yes | More rapid, less material |
| Ingrowth: | Weak gel & cell migration allow rapid ingrowth | Undefined cell signaling | Large structure inhibits ingrowth | More rapid ingrowth |