Dual Delivery of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Hepatocyte Growth Factor Coacervate Displays Strong Angiogenic Effects

Controlled delivery of multiple growth factors (GFs) holds great potential for the clinical treatment of ischemic diseases and might be more therapeutically effective to reestablish vasculature than the provision of a single GF. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are two potent angiogenic factors. However, due to rapid degradation and dilution in the body, their clinical potential will rely on an effective mode of delivery. A coacervate, composed of heparin and a biodegradable polycation, which protects GFs from proteolysis and potentiates their bioactivities, is developed. Here, the coacervate incorporates VEGF and HGF and sustains their release for at least three weeks. Their strong angiogenic effects on endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation in vitro are confirmed. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that coacervate‐based delivery of these factors has stronger effects than free application of both factors and to coacervate delivery of each GF separately. The polyvalent coacervate serves as an exciting new controlled delivery system for heparin‐binding growth factors. The coacervate strongly induces endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation through the simultaneous dual delivery of VEGF and HGF. By controlling the release of an optimal combination of growth factors, this delivery platform may lead to advancements in the area of therapeutic angiogenesis.