title: Novel glycidyl methacrylated dextran/gelatin nanoparticles loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor: formulation and characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a novel efficient nanoparticulate carrier loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Gelatin and glycidyl methacrylate-derivatized dextran (dex-GMA) were cross-linked and polymerized to form interpenetrating polymeric networks. The properties of the nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated as a function of the degree of dex-GMA substitution and the concentration of gelatin used in the preparation of the hydrogels. The morphology was observed with scanning eletromicroscopy and transmission eletromicroscopy. The swelling, degradation, and entrapment efficiency were also determined by dynamic evaluation methods in vitro. The protein release ratio and in vitro release kinetics were evaluated by routine procedure, and the biological activity of bFGF-loaded NPs was studied by cell proliferation assay, cell attachment, and cell function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NPs have a particle size of 320 +/- 20 nm. bFGF was entrapped in the nanoparticles quantitatively (the encapsulation efficiency, 89.6 +/- 0.9%). The bFGF in vitro release kinetics fitted to zero-order and Higuchi equations. Proliferation assay, attachment assay, and western blot showed that bFGF NPs had good biological effects on cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and could achieve a much longer action time than bFGF solution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that a novel biodegradable dex-GMA/gelatin hydrogel NPs loaded with bFGF could be successfully developed from both dextran- and gelatin-based biomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. guchunhu@fmmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Chunhu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Renhong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Zhifu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Aidong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dinghua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003911:Dextrans / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003911:Dextrans; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D020100:Hydrogels; D008689:Methacrylates; D014867:Water; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D005780:Gelatin