Premium
068
Photoresponsive Hydrogel Scaffolds in Cutaneous Repair
Author(s) -
Andreopoulos F.M.,
Persaud I.,
GattasAsfura K.M.,
Leblanc R.M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/j.1067-1927.2004.0abstractbo.x
Subject(s) - polymerization , scaffold , wound healing , polyethylene glycol , gelatin , chemistry , regeneration (biology) , self healing hydrogels , biophysics , polymer , fibroblast , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , biomedical engineering , in vitro , biochemistry , organic chemistry , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biology , engineering
Bioactive scaffolds impregnated with multiple growth factors that are released at controlled rates, offer the possibility of enhancing the healing process by mimicking the work of the natural tissue. We have developed photoresponsive and biodegradable hydrogel matrices based on natural and synthetic polymers that can undergo phase transformations upon exposure to alternating wavelengths of irradiation. Photo‐polymerization provides an effective and benign method for in situ hydrogelation with spatial and temporal control of the polymerization reaction. Polyethylene glycol, heparin and gelatin molecules have been modified at high yields with photosensitive groups that can be rapidly and reversibly photocrosslinked to hydrogel scaffolds in the absence of initiators. We are currently exploring the efficacy of these scaffolds as depots for the controlled delivery of basic fibroblast growth factor in cutaneous regeneration. We have demonstrated that the stability of b‐FGF is enhanced by its incorporation within the gel matrix and its complexation with components of the scaffold (i.e. heparin) while the releasing peptide maintains its activity. Cell proliferation and partial thickness wound studies demonstrated that b‐FGF could be affectively released from the scaffolds at controlled rates and its wound healing properties were a function of the mode of delivery. Rate changes up to 60% on the kinetics of peptide release could be easily achieved by altering the exposure times (seconds to minutes range). Similarly, we were able to alter the release profile of b‐FGF by adjusting the ratio of the photosensitive polymeric macromers prior to crosslinking. These results suggest that the proposed photoresponsive gels scaffolds could serve as bioactive peptide delivery vehicles in a number of tissue engineering applications.