Physicochemical, Morphological and Therapeutic Evaluation of Agarose Hydrogel Particles as a Reservoir for Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor

Author： Moribe Kunikazu Nomizu Natsuko Izukura Shunsuke Yamamoto Keiji Tozuka Yuichi Sakurai Manabu Ishida Atsushi Nishida Hirofumi Miyazaki Masaru

Publisher： Informa Healthcare

ISSN： 1083-7450

Source： Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, Vol.13, Iss.6, 2008-11, pp. : 541-547

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Micron-sized agarose hydrogel particles were prepared using an emulsification/gelation method as a controlled release reservoir for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Mean particle size of agarose hydrogel particles decreased with an increase in stirring speed and also with an increasing temperature of the oil phase, as measured before cooling. Morphologies of agarose particles before and after dispersing into water were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cryogenic SEM, respectively. Freeze-dried agarose particles were spherical with rough surface. Porous polymer matrix structure was observed in the hydrogel particles by cryo-SEM. More than 99% of bFGF was encapsulated and the release from the agarose hydrogel particles was less than 3% during the incubation in phosphate buffered saline. bFGF molecules were not only adsorbed on the particle surface but also permeated and retained within the matrix. The therapeutic efficacy of bFGF retained in agarose hydrogel particles was significantly higher than that dissolved in saline. Agarose hydrogel particle seems to be a potential candidate for a bFGF reservoir.