title: Bioactivation of dermal scaffolds with a non-viral copolymer-protected gene vector.
abstract: The use of scaffolds in skin tissue engineering is accompanied with low regeneration rates and high risk of infection. In this study, we activated an FDA-approved collagen scaffold for dermal regeneration by incorporation of copolymer-protected gene vectors (COPROGs) to induce a temporary release of VEGF. In vitro results show that the presence of COPROGs did not affect the distribution, attachment, proliferation and viability of cells in the scaffold. A transient release of VEGF was observed for up to 3 weeks. Moreover a high amount of VEGF was also found in the cells and associated with the scaffold. In a full skin defect model in nude mice, VEGF levels were significantly increased compared to controls in VEGF gene activated scaffolds 14 d after implantation, but not in skin from the wound edge. Results showed an increased amount of non-adherent cells, especially erythrocytes, and von Willebrandt factor (vWF) and a yellow red appearance of gene activated scaffolds in relation to controls. This suggests the presence of leaky vessels. In this work we show that the bioactivation of collagen scaffolds with COPROGs presents a new technology that allows a local release of therapeutic proteins thus enhancing the regenerative potential in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Oncology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ann K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Reckhenrich
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hopfner
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krötz
authors.forename: Ziyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Hans-Günther
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Machens
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plank
authors.forename: José T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Egaña
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003094:Collagen