Original Article

In vitro characteristics of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres incorporating gelatin particles loading basic fibroblast growth factor

Shao-hong Li, Shao-xi Cai, Bing Liu, Kai-wang Ma, Zhen-ping Wang, Xiao-kun Li

Abstract

Aim: To construct a sustained drug release system for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). With this special system, bFGF can be used to repair an injured peripheral nerve, injured spinal cord, or as a carrier for other drugs that need to be released over a long time.
Methods: Microsphere composite was prepared by encapsulating bFGF into gelatin particles with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as its outer-coating. The encapsulation was conducted by a phase separation method.
Results: The average diameter of the gelatin particle-PLGA microsphere composite was 5–18 μm, and bFGF-loading efficiency was up to 80.5%. The bFGF releasing experiment indicated that this new composite system could release bFGF continuously and protect bFGF from denaturation.
Conclusion: A modified approach was successfully employed to develop a biodegradable system for sustained release of the drug of bFGF in vitro.
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