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Team:METU-Gene/Gelatin Sponge
From 2009.igem.org
It is believed that, epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates the growth of keratinocytes in vivo, and therefore plays an important role in the process of wound healing that depends on mitosis and migration of keratinocytes. Rhinewald and Green showed, in vitro that in the presence of growth factors, higher percentage of cells leave the resting state, enter and remain in the mitotic cycle [23]. Assuming a similar e!ect of EGF on epidermal cells in vivo, the primary mechanism of enhanced wound healing is most likely due to increased proliferation of epidermal cells.
EGF's effects
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Mitogenic effect of EGF requires continuous exposure of target cells to EGF for a minimum 6-12 h.The stimulation of wound healing by EGF has been confirmed by Laato et al. as growth of granulation tissue in sponge implants used as inductive matrices [33].Buckley et al. reported that sustained release of EGF from subcutaneous pellets accelerated process of wound repair in rats, whereas daily injections of EGF were much less e!ective [30]. |
Layer Usage
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The half-life of EGF in the body is, however, too short to exert the biological activity e!ectively when applied via injection or in free form. It is known that many proteases are activated in the injured tissue and they easily decompose EGF in the wounded or burned site of skin as soon as it is applied as an ointment [36].Therefore, our biomaterial grade sponge has protease inhibitor feature.A porous and biodegradable matrix that would serve as the host for the proliferating cells and would degrade spontaneously without creating any adverse effects while the tissue regenerates was planned to act as the underlying dermal layer.Thus,with biodegredation of sponge,EGF and KGF will be able to pass through the layer easily. |
