Harnessing
the Power
of the Matrix
OUR APPROACH
Background
Elastin is critical to the structural integrity and function of many human tissues, including the skin, blood vessels and lungs. Loss of elastin occurs naturally in aging tissues, or through damage or disease to tissues which lose their ability to produce organized elastic fibers. The lack of functional elastin fiber networks is implicated in diseases such as atherosclerosis and aneurysms, in lung diseases such as emphysema, and in aging skin, burns, and wounds. The restoration of elastic fibers to adult human tissues has not been adequately addressed by the medical or scientific community.
Cultured Elastin Fibers
Matrexa's Innovative Approach.
Matrexa uses matrix-based approaches to restart de novo elastin fiber production in tissues which have lost their ability to generate elastic fiber networks. This technology has been successfully used to engineer elastin-enriched skin sheets and blood vessels with improved structural integrity and function. The ability to restore de novo elastic fiber formation in regenerating tissues represents a paradigm shift in the field.
Bioengineered Blood Vessel
Applications
Matrexa's elastin-restoring technology will have a wide range of applications in engineered tissues and grafts, in dermatological applications for wound healing, scar reduction, and cosmetics, and in chronic diseases and conditions such as atherosclerosis, restenosis, and emphysema. The first applications being developed by Matrexa are products for wound healing, vascular bypass, and skin grafts.
