Cardiac regenerative therapy by using VEGF collagen graft-New cell implantation platform

Abstract

Vascularization of engineered tissues in vitro and in vivo remains a key problem in translation of engineeredtissues to clinical practice. Growth factor signalling can be prolonged by covalent tethering, thuswe hypothesized that covalent immobilization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-165) toa porous collagen scaffold will enable rapid vascularization in vivo. Covalent immobilization may bepreferred over controlled release or cell transfection if the effects are desired within the biomaterialrather than the surrounding tissue.