Effects of bFGF incorporated into a gelatin sheet on wound healing

• Published in: Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer ed. Vol. 16; no. 7; pp. 893 - 907
• Main Authors: Miyoshi, Michiyo, Kawazoe, Takeshi, Igawa, Hiroharu H., Tabata, Yasuhiko, Ikada, Yoshito, Suzuki, Shigehiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 01-01-2005
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, CD34 - physiology; BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR; Delayed-Action Preparations; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - administration & dosage; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - blood; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - chemistry; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - pharmacokinetics; GELATIN; Gelatin - administration & dosage; Gelatin - chemistry; Gelatin - pharmacokinetics; Granulation Tissue - drug effects; Granulation Tissue - physiology; Histocytochemistry; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - administration & dosage; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - chemistry; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - pharmacokinetics; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred ICR; NEOEPITHELIALIZATION; Neovascularization, Physiologic - drug effects; Neovascularization, Physiologic - physiology; SUSTAINED RELEASE; WOUND CONTRACTION; WOUND HEALING; Wound Healing - drug effects; Wound Healing - physiology
• ISSN: 0920-5063; 1568-5624
• DOI: 10.1163/1568562054255709

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is well known to promote the proliferation of almost all cells associated with wound healing. However, as the activation duration of bFGF is very short in vivo, we incorporated bFGF into an acidic gelatin hydrogel and studied the sustained
release of bFGF in vivo. In addition, we investigated the effects of the acidic gelatin sheet containing bFGF on wound healing. To distinguish wound contraction from neoepithelialization, we measured both the wound area and neoepithelium length. Other histological parameters such as
thickness of granulation tissue and number of capillaries were also determined as indices of wound healing. Fibrous tissue was assessed using an Elastica van Gieson and Azan stain. A skin defect (1.5 × 1.5 cm) of full thickness was created on the back of each test mouse and the wound
was covered with an acidic gelatin hydrogel, referred to as a gelatin sheet in this study (2 × 2 cm), with bFGF (100 μg/site) (A) or without bFGF (B). 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after covering, mice were killed and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to
estimate the concentration of bFGF in the plasma. In another experiment, each wound was covered with (A), (B) or a hydrogel dressing (control group, C) and the wound area was measured 1 or 2 weeks postoperatively with a computer planimeter. The histological parameters, as mentioned above,
were assessed using a light microscope. Sustained release of bFGF from the gelatin sheet was observed and the gelatin sheet containing bFGF promoted neoepithelialization, granulation, neovascularization and wound closure. This gelatin sheet containing bFGF was concluded to be effective for
wound healing and promising for clinical use.