Fibroblast growth factor-2 alters the effect of eroding polylactide-polyglycolide on angiogenesis in the bone chamber

The effects of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 in the presence of eroding 50:50 poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) on angiogenesis during acute bone defect healing were studied in the optical bone chamber. Bone chambers were loaded with disks of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) surrounded by one of four doses of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2. Fifty-two female rabbit right tibias were implanted. Commencing with the third postimplantation week, healing into the bone chamber compartment was observed weekly, with use of intravital microscopy, until week 8. The treatment groups were as follows: unloaded, loaded with polymer only, and loaded with polymer plus-0.5, -1.0, and -10 microg recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2. Videotaped and photographed bone images were measured and analyzed with a frame-grabber digitizing system. Comparison with controls or polymer alone revealed that angiogenesis rates were significantly above normal in rabbits loaded with polymer plus either of the two highest recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 doses. The effects of these doses were not, however, significantly different from each other, indicating a plateauing rather than monotonically increasing response. It was concluded that recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 in the dose- range studied can effectively overcome the retarding effects of eroding polymer on angiogenesis in bone, which has been reported previously by this laboratory. In contrast to these results, no statistically significant differences in angiogenesis rate as a function of time could be detected. It is suggested that this apparent lack of variation is linked to observed alterations in vessel patterns from week-to-week. The clinical relevance of these results is that inhibitory carrier effects can be compensated for by increasing the dose of loaded agent where the effect being inhibited is the one being treated, or by adding an agent specific for the inhibited effect. In either case, geometry of the carrier must be considered when programming for delivery rate.