In vitro characteristics of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres incorporating gelatin particles loading basic fibroblast growth factor

Aim: To construct a sustained drug release system for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). With this special system, bFGF can be used to repair an injured peripheral nerve, injured spinal cord, or as a carrier for other drugs that need to be released over a long time. Methods: Microsphere composite was prepared by encapsulating bFGF into gelatin particles with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as its outer-coating. The encapsulation was conducted by a phase separation method. Results: The average diameter of the gelatin particle-PLGA microsphere composite was 5-18 um, and bFGF-loading efficiency was up to 80.5%. The bFGF releasing experiment indicated that this new composite system could release bFGF continuously and protect bFGF from denaturation. Conclusion: A modified approach was successfully employed to develop a biodegradable system for sustained release of the drug of bFGF in vitro.