Karin Wuertz‐Kozak

Targeting Fibrotic Scars with Extracellular Vesicles Extracted from Mature Aloe vera Gel: Enhanced Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Antifibrotic Activity through M2 Macrophage Polarization and Inhibition of Myofibroblast Differentiation

This study isolates and characterizes extracellular vesicles from Aloe vera gel, showing that mature manually extracted vesicles have superior antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic effects.

TRPC6-Mediated Ca2+ Influx Activates MAPK and NF κB Signaling and Elicits Pro-Inflammatory and Catabolic Responses in Human Intervertebral Disc Cells

This study shows TRPC6 activation in human intervertebral disc cells causes calcium influx and activates MAPK and NF-κB pathways, leading to inflammation and catabolic responses.

Development and Characterization of a Tunable PDMS Substrate Model for Investigating Elastic Properties and Mechanical Stretching in Intervertebral Disc Cells

This paper develops a tunable PDMS substrate platform to study mechanical loading and cell-substrate interactions in intervertebral disc cells, showing cells align with applied strain and maintain viability.