Regulation of the binding of the BMP-2 growth factor with collagen by blood plasma fibronectin

The release kinetics of recombinant human bone morphogenic factor 2 (rhBMP-2) from collagen hydrogel in the presence of human blood plasma have been studied. The expulsion of rhBMP-2 from the collagen-BMP-2 complex by the competitive adhesion of collagen-binding proteins penetrating from plasma was firstly recognized. It was experimentally proven that that blood plasma fibronectin is the main collagen-binding protein, which is responsible for the controlled release of rhBMP-2. As a result, a new collagen hydrogel with the incorporation of fibronectin was created which retained rhBMP-2 for a twice longer period as compared to the ordinary collagen hydrogel. A distinctive feature of this new collagen-fibronectin matrix is the slow release of rhBMP-2 in the first three days which allows for the avoiding of adverse effects in clinics caused by the rapid release of large amounts of rhBMP-2 from collagen hydrogel.