Gene Therapy for Bone Tissue Engineering

Gene therapy holds a great promise and has been extensively investigated to improve bone formation and regeneration therapies in bone tissue engineering. A variety of osteogenic genes can be delivered by combining different vectors (viral or non-viral), scaffolds and delivery methodologies. Ex vivo & in vivo gene enhanced tissue engineering approaches have led to successful osteogenic differentiation and bone formation. In this article, we review recent advances of gene therapy-based bone tissue engineering discussing strengths and weaknesses of various strategies as well as general overview of gene therapy.

Clinical Application of Fiblast(R) in Second Degree Burn

PURPOSE: Nowadays importance of growth factors in wound healing is being focused. Wound healing can be accelerated by various growth factors. Wound healing cascade consists of inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) helps proliferation of fibroblast and promotes angiogenesis and formation of granulation tissue through proliferative phase. We investigated the effect of recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor Fiblast(R) (Kaken Pharmaceutical, Japan) on second degree burns. METHODS: 57 patients from July 2009 to September 2009 with second degree burn were treated with bFGF. Average age, sex, cause of burn, depth of burn, location of wound, epithelization period and number of operation were studied. Recombinant bFGF was used with spraying. The bFGT was sprayed and wait for 30 seconds and then foam dressing was applied to wounds. The bFGF administration continued until the wound healed. RESULTS: The average healing time in the bFGF-treated group was 8.4+/-2.2 days (4~14 days). Among 57 patients, 19 patients had superficial second degree burn and the average healing time in the bFGF-treated group was 7.2+/-1.5 days (4~9 days), 30 patients had deep second degree burn and the average healing time in the bFGF-treated group was 11.2+/-1.7 days (9~14 days). 20 patients had deep second degree burn and were clinically considered to get operation during hospital course but eventually 8 of patients (40%) with deep second degree burn treated with bFGF underwent operation. CONCLUSION: The use of bFGF for second-degree burns decreased the wound healing time. Especially the use of bFGF decreased the rate of getting operation in deep second degree burn and increased the convenience of treatment.