Sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor from the synthetic vascular prosthesis using hydroxypropylchitosan acetate

We designed a model vascular prosthesis consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore Tex®) loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and studied its in vivo bFGF release behavior. To control the release rate of bFGF, biodegradable hydroxypropylchitosan acetate (HPCHA) was also incorporated into the Gore Tex® disks with bFGF. HPCHA was dissolved in bFGF solution (180 μg/ml) at a concentration of 4% (wt/vol). A Gore Tex® tube was cut into a length of about 5 cm and one end was sealed with a vascular clamp. The tube was then filled with resulting solution under appropriate pressure until the solvents seeped through the pores. The tube loaded with BFGF solution was freeze‐dried and was cut into disks (0.75 cm in diameter). bFGF content in a HPCHA‐free Gore disk was 2.05 ± 0.32 μg (SE, n = 5). BFGF content in a HPCHA Gore disk was 2.71 ± 0.41 μg (SE, n = 5). In an in vivo study in which the bFGF loaded Gore Tex® disk was implanted in rabbit skin pockets, almost 100% of bFGF from HPCHA‐free disks was released within 24 h, whereas some 60% remained after 24 h in the HPCHA‐loaded disks. HPCHA is a useful biodegradable carrier for controlling the release rate of the drug from the synthetic vascular prosthesis. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.