Martin C. Peters

Polymeric system for dual growth factor delivery

The development of tissues and organs is typically driven by the action of a number of growth factors. However, efforts to regenerate tissues (e.g., bone, blood vessels) typically rely on the delivery of single factors, and this may partially explain the limited clinical utility of many current approaches. One constraint on delivering appropriate combinations of factors is a lack of delivery vehicles that allow for a localized and controlled delivery of more than a single factor. We report a new polymeric system that allows for the tissue-specific delivery of two or more growth factors, with controlled dose and rate of delivery. The utility of this system was investigated in the context of therapeutic angiogenesis. We now demonstrate that dual delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-165 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, each with distinct kinetics, from a single, structural polymer scaffold results in the rapid formation of a mature vascular network. This is the first report of a vehicle capable of delivery of multiple angiogenic factors with distinct kinetics, and these results clearly indicate the importance of multiple growth factor action in tissue regeneration and engineering.

Bioabsorbable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering capable of sustained growth factor delivery

Engineering new tissues utilizing cell transplantation on biodegradable polymer matrices is an attractive approach to treat patients suffering from the loss or dysfunction of a number of tissues and organs. The matrices must maintain structural integrity during the process of tissue formation, and promote the vascularization of the developing tissue. A number of molecules (angiogenic factors) have been identified that promote the formation of new vascular beds from endothelial cells present within tissues, and the localized, controlled delivery of these factors from a matrix may allow an enhanced vascularization of engineered tissues. We have developed a gas foaming polymer processing approach that allows the fabrication of three-dimensional porous matrices from bioabsorbable materials (e.g., copolymers of lactide and glycolide [PLG]) without the use of organic solvents or high temperatures. The effects of several processing parameters (e.g., gas type, polymer composition and molecular weight) on the process were studied. Several gases (CO(2), N(2), He) were utilized in the fabrication process, but only CO(2) resulted in the formation of highly porous, structurally intact matrices. Crystalline polymers (polylactide and polyglycolide) did not form porous matrices, while amorphous copolymers (50:50, 75:25, and 85:15 ratio of lactide:glycolide) foamed to yield matrices with porosity up to 95%. The mechanical properties of matrices were also regulated by the choice of PLG composition and molecular weight. Angiogenic factors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor) were subsequently incorporated into matrices during the fabrication process, and released in a controlled manner. Importantly, the released growth factor retains over 90% of its bioactivity. In summary, a promising system for the incorporation and delivery of angiogenic factors from three-dimensional, biodegradable polymer matrices has been developed, and the fabrication process allows incorporation under mild conditions.

Sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor from mineralized poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds for tissue engineering

Strategies to engineer bone tissue have focused on either: (1) the use of scaffolds for osteogenic cell transplantation or as conductive substrates for guided bone regeneration; or (2) release of inductive bioactive factors from these scaffold materials. This study describes an approach to add an inductive component to an osteoconductive scaffold for bone tissue engineering. We report the release of bioactive vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from a mineralized, porous, degradable polymer scaffold. Three dimensional, porous scaffolds of the copolymer 85 : 15 poly(lactide-co-glycolide) were fabricated by including the growth factor into a gas foaming/particulate leaching process. The scaffold was then mineralized via incubation in a simulated body fluid. Growth of a bone-like mineral film on the inner pore surfaces of the porous scaffold is confirmed by mass increase measurements and quantification of phosphate content within scaffolds. Release of 125I-labeled VEGF was tracked over a 15 day period to determine release kinetics from the mineralized scaffolds. Sustained release from the mineralized scaffolds was achieved, and growth of the mineral film had only a minor effect on the release kinetics from the scaffolds. The VEGF released from the mineralized and non-mineralized scaffolds was over 70% active for up to 12 days following mineralization treatment, and the growth of mineral had little effect on total scaffold porosity.

Engineering and characterization of functional human microvessels in immunodeficient mice

Current model systems used to investigate angiogenesis in vivo rely on the interpretation of results obtained with nonhuman endothelial cells. Recent advances in tissue engineering and molecular biology suggest the possibility of engineering human microvessels in vivo. Here we show that human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) transplanted into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice on biodegradable polymer matrices differentiate into functional human microvessels that anastomose with the mouse vasculature. HDMEC were stably transduced with Flag epitope or alkaline phosphatase to confirm the human origin of the microvessels. Endothelial cells appeared dispersed throughout the sponge 1 day after transplantation, became organized into empty tubular structures by Day 5, and differentiated into functional microvessels within 7 to 10 days. Human microvessels in SCID mice expressed the physiological markers of angiogenesis: CD31, CD34, vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Human endothelial cells became invested by perivascular smooth muscle α-actin–expressing mouse cells 21 days after implantation. This model was used previously to demonstrate that overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 in HDMEC enhances neovascularization, and that apoptotic disruption of tumor microvessels is associated with apoptosis of surrounding tumor cells. The proposed SCID mouse model of human angiogenesis is ideally suited for the study of the physiology of microvessel development, pathologic neovascular responses such as tumor angiogenesis, and for the development and investigation of strategies designed to enhance the neovascularization of engineered human tissues and organs.

Release from alginate enhances the biological activity of vascular endothelial growth factor

A primary factor which limits engineering tissues of substantial size is the lack of nutrients readily available to transplanted cells. One potential solution to this nutrient limitation is to encourage the rapid development of a vascular network within three-dimensional tissue engineering matrices. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been identified as a potent stimulator of angiogenesis in vivo. Though effective at stimulating endothelial cells to form blood vessels VEGF degrades rapidly. Spherical alginate beads (3.3+/-0.1 mm diameter) were examined as a means of delivering biologically functional VEGF at a controlled rate over extended times. The alginate beads demonstrated the ability to incorporate VEGF with an efficiency between 30 and 67%, depending on the processing conditions, and release it at a constant rate (5%/day) for up to 14 days in vitro. The released VEGF, when assayed for its ability to stimulate endothelial cells in culture, was found not only to be functional but more potent (three to five times) than the same mass of VEGF added directly to the culture medium. The release kinetics of freeze dried VEGF containing alginate beads were also examined and found to be comparable to non-freeze dried samples.

Comparison of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor on angiogenesis in SCID mice

Therapeutic angiogenesis is a promising approach to treat patients with cardiovascular disease, and will likely be critical to engineering large tissues. Many growth factors have been found to play significant roles in angiogenesis, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are the most extensively investigated angiogenic factors to date. However, the appropriate dose to obtain a desired response and the effectiveness of each factor, relative to the other, in promoting angiogenesis at a specific site in the body remains unclear. We have used alginate hydrogels as localized delivery vehicles for VEGF and bFGF, and compared the ability of these factors to promote new blood vessel formation in the subcutaneous tissue of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. We have found that the thickness of a granulation tissue layer formed around the gel and the number of blood vessels in the layer increased with the dose of VEGF in the gel, but the density of new blood vessels remained relatively constant. Sustained and localized delivery of bFGF from the gels, while similarly leading to an increase in the density of blood vessels in the granulation tissue, did not lead to as high of a blood vessel density as VEGF. The results of this study support previous studies demonstrating the utility of both VEGF and bFGF in promoting angiogenesis, and suggest VEGF is more appropriate for creating a dense bed of new blood vessels in this model.

Locally Enhanced Angiogenesis Promotes Transplanted Cell Survival

A developing therapy for complete or partial loss of function in various tissues and organs involves transplanting an appropriate cell population, capable of compensating for the existing deficiencies. Clinical application of this type of strategy is currently limited by the death or dedifferentiation of the transplanted cells after delivery to the recipient. A delay in thorough vascularization of the implant area creates an environment low in oxygen and other nutrients, and likely contributes to the initial death of transplanted cells. We have addressed this problem by sustained delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an initiator of angiogenesis, from a porous polymer matrix utilized simultaneously for cell delivery. As expected from previous studies, VEGF delivered from these constructs elicited an enhanced angiogenic response over a 2-week period when implanted subcutaneously in SCID mice. Hepatocytes implanted using VEGF-containing matrices demonstrated significantly greater survival after 1 week in vivo as compared with cells implanted on matrices without growth factor. The results of this study therefore indicate that enhancing vascularization in the location of transplanted cells promotes their survival. In addition, this delivery system may be used in future studies to directly promote cell survival and function by also providing growth factors specific to the transplanted cells.