Acellular biological tissues containing inherent glycosaminoglycans for loading basic fibroblast growth factor promote angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.
It was found in our previous study that acellular tissues derived from bovine pericardia consist primarily of insoluble collagen, elastin, and tightly bound glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). It is speculated that the inherent GAGs in acellular tissues may serve as a reservoir for loading basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and promote angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. This study was therefore designed to investigate effects of the content of GAGs in acellular bovine pericardia on the binding of bFGF and its release profile in vitro while its stimulation in angiogenesis and tissue regeneration in vivo were evaluated subcutaneously in a rat model. To control the content of GAGs, acellular tissues were treated additionally with hyaluronidase for 1 (Hase-D1), 3 (Hase-D3), or 5 days (Hase-D5). The in vitro results indicated that a higher content of GAGs in the acellular tissue resulted in an increase in bFGF binding and in a more gradual and sustained release of the growth factor. The in vivo results obtained at 1 week postoperatively showed that the density and the depth of neo-vessels infiltrated into the acellular tissue loaded with bFGF (acellular/bFGF) were significantly greater than the other test samples. At 1 month postoperatively, vascularized neo-connective tissues were found to fill the pores within each test sample, particularly for the acellular/bFGF tissue. These results suggested that the sustained release of bFGF from the acellular/ bFGF tissue continued to be effective in enhancing angiogenesis and generation of new tissues. In conclusion, the inherent GAGs present in acellular tissues may be used for binding and sustained release of bFGF to enhance angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.
Lai
Po-Hong
PH
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Chang
Yen
Y
Chen
Sung-Ching
SC
Wang
Chung-Chi
CC
Liang
Huang-Chien
HC
Chang
Wei-Chun
WC
Sung
Hsing-Wen
HW
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000737:chemistry; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004343:Drug Implants; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2