THE EFFECT ON WOUND-HEALING BY A MODIFIED FIBRIN SCAFFOLD DELIVERING ACIDIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR (FGF-1)

This project investigated the efficacy of modified fibrin scaffold as a vehicle for acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1). The goal of thi s study was to justify the use of a modified fibrin scaffold with alte red surface roughness and porosity as a drug-delivery matrix, specific ally for the delivery of FGF-1. The hypothesis tested was that FGF-1 d elivered in an optimal dose through a modified fibrin scaffold would r esult in a significant increase in angiogenesis, epithelialization, fi broblast, and healing rate, and correspond to a decrease in overall he aling time. In vivo testing was conducted in a full-thickness defect m odel in a rabbit. Four 3 x 3-cm full-thickness defects were created on the dorsum of each of five white New Zealand rabbits. There were four treatments to be investigated: modified fibrin scaffold, modified fib rin/FGF-1 scaffolds, topical FGF-1, and control defects. The regimen o f topical dosing of FGF-1 was determined from release kinetic studies using the modified fibrin scaffold. The areas and perimeters of the in itial wound and final wounds were obtained from histological slides us ing an image analysis system. Standard histomorphometric techniques we re used to characterize the wound-healing response. In this study, the modified fibrin/FGF-1 scaffold served as a suitable vehicle for FGF-1 , providing an enhanced angiogenic and a fibroblastic healing response and, thus, was found to be an effective scaffold.