Abstract
Application of growth factors at wound site has improved the efficiency and quality of healing. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induce proliferation of various cells in wound healing. Delivery of growth factor from controlled release systems protect it from degradation and also result in sustained delivery of it at the site of injury. The goal of the study was to develop a Polyethylene glycol (PEG) cross-linked cotton-like chitosan scaffold (CS-PEG-H) by freeze-drying method and chemically conjugate heparin to the scaffold to which the growth factors can be electrostatically bound and evaluate its wound healing properties in vitro and in vivo. The growth factor containing scaffolds induced increased proliferation of HaCaT cells, increased neovascularization and collagen formation seen by H and E and Masson’s trichrome staining. Immunohistochemistry was performed using the Ki67 marker which increased proliferation of cells in growth factor containing scaffold treated group. Frequent dressing changes are a major deterrent to proper wound healing. Our system was found to release both VEGF and bFGF in a continuous manner and attained stability after 7 days. Thus our system can maintain therapeutic levels of growth factor at the wound bed thereby avoiding the need for daily applications and frequent dressing changes. Thus, it can be a promising candidate for wound healing.
Highlights
Application of growth factors at wound site has improved the efficiency and quality of healing
The hydroxyl group of polyethylene glycol reacted with this Schiff-base to form CS-Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
For the CS-PEG sample, the peaks corresponding to the hydroxyl group, amino group and amide group of chitosan shifted slightly, and their intensities were significantly reduced as a result of PEG grafting
Summary
Application of growth factors at wound site has improved the efficiency and quality of healing. Application of growth factors at the site of the wound has shown to improve the efficiency and quality of wound healing as they stimulate angiogenesis and proliferation of cells and that in turn regulates the production and degradation of the extracellular matrix[2,3]. Local application of growth factors has been found to have poor efficiency due to their short half-life and rapid dilution in the body They are quickly degraded and inactivated by various factors at the site of injury. Clinical trials on wound healing of ulcers by topical administration of growth factors including bFGF and VEGF have largely been unsuccessful due to their short half-life, and at high systemic levels, they have been found to have undesirable effects[19]. Heparin is immobilized throughout the scaffold because of which there is a uniform distribution of growth factor in the scaffold
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