Title:Controlled Release of Growth Factors for Regenerative Medicine
Volume: 21
Issue: 12
Author(s): Libiao Liu, Xinwei Zhou, Yufan Xu, Weiming Zhang, Cheng-Hsien Liu and Xiaohong Wang
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Controlled release, growth factors (GFs), regenerative medicine, microencapsulation techniques, stem cells.
Abstract: How to release growth factors (GFs) scientifically to promote stem cell proliferation and differentiation is one of
the most significant research focuses in the field of regenerative medicine. In a controlled release system, growth factors, extracellular
matrices or biomaterial carriers, and sometimes stem cells together form a geometric entirety. Biomaterial carriers
provide GFs with a support structure to be adhered, immobilized, encapsulated or/and protected. As a unity, the release rate
and rhythm of GFs on cells are normally very delicate and precise. Up to now, the best strategy for clinical applications is the combination
systems that encapsulate GFs in microspheres, particularly the nano- or micro-encapsulation techniques integrated GFs with biomaterial
carriers. In this mini review, we summarize the current progress in GF delivery systems for regenerative medicine and provide an
outlook on two main aspects: one is the classes of stem cells and GFs that have been used frequently in regenerative medicine, including
their respective application conditions and functions; the other is the controlled GF release systems, in which various GFs are released
orderly and continuously without diffusing simply and rapidly, including their respective opportunities and challenges.
