Fibrin scaffold as an effective vehicle for the delivery of acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1)

The effect of wound healing by fibrin and acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) in an in vivo model was evaluated in this study. Four full-thickness wounds were made on the dorsum of each rabbit (n = 5). Each of these wounds had different treatment groups: control, topical FGF-1 (100 microg/9 cm2), fibrin (2.0 mL at 60 mg/mL fibrinogen), and FGF-1 (100 microg/9 cm2)/fibrin. The animals were sacrificed at the end of 2 weeks. Histomorphometric analysis and mechanical testing were conducted to assess the healing response. FGF-1/fibrin treatment improved the mechanical properties of the healed tissue. Fibrin scaffold exhibited the desired tissue response, as demonstrated by the lack of inflammation, and was deemed an effective carrier for FGF-1.