Growth factors embedded in an agarose matrix enhance the rate of porous polyethylene implant biointegration.
OBJECTIVE
Repeated injections of epidermal and basic fibroblastic growth factors have been shown to enhance the biointegration rate of implanted porous polyethylene. A study was done to determine whether agarose, introduced at the time of implant placement, might serve as an adequate "single dose" delivery system for endogenous and exogenous growth factors.


METHODS
Polyethylene cubes coated with agarose-containing growth factors were implanted into fat and muscle in rabbits. Factors studied included autogenous whole blood, autogenous serum, ascorbic acid, epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor alpha, and transforming growth factor beta. The rate and character of the fibrovascular ingrowth into implants and surrounding capsule thickness were assessed.


RESULTS
Fibroblast infiltration enhanced two- to sixfold with the use of autogenous or allogenic factors introduced in an agarose matrix at the time of cube implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Growth factors studied altered the thickness of the capsule surrounding implants as well as both the vascularity and stromal density within implants.
Soparkar
C N
CN
Plastic Eye Surgery Associates, PLLC, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Wong
J F
JF
Patrinely
J R
JR
Appling
D
D
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D020273:Orbital Implants; D020959:Polyethylene; D016062:Porosity; D011817:Rabbits; D012685:Sepharose; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000008:administration & dosage
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D006133:Growth Substances; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D020959:Polyethylene; D012685:Sepharose