“The cover of Macromolecular Rapid Communications (impact factor = 4.941) is highly coveted. It is instantly recognizable and associated worldwide with the highest quality research from the top researchers in the field.”
This publication has former postdoc Dr. John Hardy as first author and is in collaboration with Dr. David Kaplan of Tufts University. Bone tissue is a complex mixture of inorganic and organic matter (with high levels of calcium phosphate and the protein collagen). The image for the cover is an artistic impression of the effect of electrically stimulating stem cells taken from bone marrow (at 0.1 Volts per millimeter), showing that it encourages the cells to produce elevated levels of the enzyme Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Collagen, and the deposition of calcium (Ca2+), which represent important steps towards the generation of bone-like tissue.
Full Reference:
Hardy, J.G., M.K. Villancio-Wolter, R.C. Sukhavasi, D.J. Mouser, D. Aguilar, S.A. Geissler, D.L. Kaplan, C.E. Schmidt (2015). Electrical stimulation of human mesenchymal stem cells on conductive nanofibers enhances their differentiation towards osteogenic outcomes. Macromolecular Rapid Communications. 36:1884–1890.