Protein-loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA microspheres: a tool for cell therapy.

A promising strategy to repair injured organs is possible by delivering a growth factor via poly-(d,l lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres; the latter are coated with adhesion molecules that serve as a support for cell delivery. At present, PLGA is not the optimal choice of polymer because of poor or incomplete protein release. The use of a more hydrophilic PLGA-PEG-PLGA (A-B-A) copolymer increases the degree of protein release. In this work, the impact of different combinations of (B) and (A) segments on the protein-release profile has been investigated. Continuous-release profiles, with no lag phases, were observed. The triblock ABA with a low molecular weight of PEG and a high molecular weight of PLGA showed an interesting release pattern with a small burst (<10% in 48 h) followed by sustained, protein release over 36 days. Incomplete protein release was found to be due to various causes: protein adsorption, protein aggregation and protein denaturation under acidic conditions. Interestingly, cell viability and cell adhesion on microspheres coated with fibronectin highlight the interest of these polymers for tissue engineering applications.
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