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Updated: Nov 28, 2025
The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications
Published on: October 7, 2016
Zwitterionic hydrogel for sustained release of growth factors to enhance wound healing
Zecong Xiao1, Xinyao Zheng2, Ying An3
1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, P. R. China. woody870402@hotmail.com and College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, P. R. China. hehc@wzu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Growth factors (GFs) have been well known for their therapeutic effects on wound healing. Due to their vulnerable biostability, biomaterial carriers are usually used to deliver GFs to maintain their bioactivity. Among the carriers, PEG hydrogels are the most widely applied. But the uncontrolled release of GFs and their immunogenicity dramatically retard the application of PEG hydrogels as carriers of GFs. Herein, FGF2 loaded zwitterionic sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) hydrogels were developed, and it was revealed that these hydrogels were more effective in delivering FGF2 for wound healing than were PEG hydrogels. In vitro studies demonstrated that SBMA hydrogels could successfully prolong the release of FGF2, which effectively maintained the bioactivity of FGF2. Further in vivo investigation showed that SBMA hydrogels could efficiently accelerate wound regeneration by promoting granulation tissue formation, collagen deposition, cell proliferation and migration, reepithelialization and angiogenesis. All results validated that SBMA hydrogels were promising substituents of PEG hydrogels for delivering FGF2 for wound regeneration.
