[Periodontal regeneration by FGF2]

Periodontitis, evoked by bacterial biofilm (dental plaque), progressively destroys the periodontal tissue supporting the teeth. Unfortunately, no conventional treatments can ever regenerate lost periodontal tissue or normal structure and functionality. Recently, basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) is winning attention from researchers in the field of periodontal tissue regeneration therapy. Topical application of FGF2 to the experimentally-prepared periodontal tissue defects in beagle dogs and non-human primates induced significant periodontal tissue regeneration with new cementum and new alveolar bone formation. Furthermore, the recent data of Phase II clinical trial demonstrated that FGF2 was efficacious in regenerating periodontal tissue. If we can generate an intelligent carrier for FGF2 in the nature of "scaffold", indications of FGF2 therapy would be dramatically increased.