Delivery of TGF-β1 and GH from Mineralized PCL Films; A Potential Novel Model of Gelatinous Transformation of the Bone Marrow

The ability to locally deliver bioactive molecules to distinct regions of the skeleton may provide a novel means by which to treat osteomyelitis,improve bone healing, or accelerate growth. In this manuscript we demonstrate that biologically active molecules can be released from bioabsorbable membranes and have a local effect on the skeleton. Herein, we introduce a mineral-coated poly-e-caprolactone film capable of binding and releasing HGH and TGF-β1both in vitro and in vivo. These mineral coated membranes loaded with either HGH or TGF-β1 were surgically placed underneath the periosteum, and multiple effects on neighboring osseous tissue, periosteal tissue, and local bone marrow cellularity were observed. Importantly, the observed effects in the presence of HGH orTGF-β1 were distinct from sham surgeries and implanted mineral-coated poly-e-caprolactone films without these growth factors. Such results suggest that HGH and TGF-β1 released from the mineral-coated films are indeed bioactive in vivo and are exerting localized effects on the skeleton. We posit that this work represents the first step towards the development of technologies to locally affect the skeleton, and that further studies to develop therapeutic applications and optimize these systems can now be pursued.