Effects of bFGF incorporated into a gelatin sheet on wound healing

Abstract

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 x 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 x 2 cm), with bFGF (100 microg/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.

The Controlled Release of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Promotes a Rapid Healing of Pancreaticojejunal Anastomosis with Potent Angiogenesis and Accelerates Apoptosis in Granulation Tissue

“…In our animals, the MVD in the bFGF-GH group was significantly higher from d 7 onwards. Our results are consistent with previous reports [20,21], in which bFGF incorporated into gelatin sheets promoted neovascularization compared with controls. Angiogenesis is an absolute requirement for successful healing of anastomosis, regardless of the type of anastomosis [22].…”

Cell encapsulation using biopolymer gels for regenerative medicine

“…Gelatin dissolves in water at 60°C then gels as the solution cools to room temperature (Young et al 2005). Gelatin is widely used in pharmaceutical and medical applications due to its biodegradable nature (Ikada and Tabata 1996;Miyoshi et al 2005).…”

Gelatin hydrogel impregnated with platelet-rich plasma releasate promotes angiogenesis and wound healing in murine model

“…Concerning the gelatin hydrogel sheet in this study, Miyoshi et al [19] reported that this sheet could sustain the release of bFGF and the sheet impregnated with bFGF promoted wound closure, neoepithelialization and neovascularization in murine skin defects. Matsui et al [9] prepared gelatin granules homogenized from this gelatin sheet and reported that granules incorporating PRPr or bFGF released PDGF-BB or bFGF in good correspondence with its degradation.…”