Detail

Keywords

Adhesives; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Biochemistry; Biocompatible Materials; Bioreactors; Cartilage; Chondrocytes; Extracellular Matrix; Histology; In Vitro; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds; Transduction, Genetic; Translational Medical Research

Research interests

The main focus of my research is on traumatic cartilage defect treatment by cell therapy and tissue engineering using scaffold-based and scaffold-free approaches. Apart from chondrocytes I investigate adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells as alternative cell source, their differentiation capacity and anti-inflammatory treatments. A special focus lies on the tissue architecture and scaffold-based guidance of matrix deposition. The second field of interest are biological adhesives as bionic strategy for tissue glue development. Morphological, biochemical and functional material analysis are used to characterize substances in terms of their composition, mechanobiological properties and bonding strength as well as biocompatibility.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

Our lab routinely performs in vitro research using techniques from cell biology, imaging, biochemistry and molecular biology. We have expertise in primary cell isolation and culture, redifferentiation of chondrocytes and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, dynamic seeding and three-dimensional culture systems. We perform in vitro imaging and cell tracking by lentiviral transduction. The most frequently used methods for analysis are histology, electron microscopy, biochemical essays such as ELISAs and RT-qPCR.  In cooperations we perform in vitro bioreactor studies and perform analysis with µCT, nano-CT and MRI imaging.

Grants

• CartiScaff2Clinics (2019)
  Source of Funding: FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency), Bridge 1
  Principal Investigator
• Biological skin plug system (2016)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Stand-Alone Projects
  Principal Investigator
• CartiScaff (2014)
  Source of Funding: FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency), BRIDGE early stage
  Principal Investigator

Selected publications

1. Nürnberger, S. et al., 2021. Repopulation of decellularized articular cartilage by laser based matrix engraving. EBioMedicine Availbable at: doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103196
2. Nürnberger, S. et al., 2019. Adipose Tissue-derived Therapeutic Cells in their Natural Environment as Novel Autologous Cell Therapy Strategy: The Microtissue-Stromal Vascular Fraction. Eur Cell Mat, 22 (37) p113-133. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.22203/eCM.v037a0.
3. Nürnberger, S. et al., 2019. Repopulation of an auricular cartilage scaffold, AuriScaff, perforated with an enzyme combination. Acta Biomaterialia, (1) 86 p207-222. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2018. 12.035 .
4. Schneider, C. et al., 2016. Systematic Comparison of Protocols for the Preparation of Human Articular Cartilage for Use as Scaffold Material in Cartilage Tissue Engineering. Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 22 (12) 1095-1107. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEC.2016.0380.
5. Nuernberger, S. et al., 2011. The influence of scaffold architecture on chondrocyte distribution and behavior in matrix-associated chondrocyte transplantation grafts. Biomaterials, 32(4), pp.1032-1040. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.08.100.