Growth factor delivered with implantable biomaterials has been used to both accelerate and ensure healing of open fractures in human patients. However, a major limitation of implantable biomaterials is the requirement for open surgical placement. Here, we developed an injectable collagen material-based bone formation system consisting of injectable collagen powder with fibril morphology and collagen triple helix conformation, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) fused to the collagen-binding domain (CBD) of Clostridium histolyticum collagenase. The affinity of the CBD towards collagen was confirmed by the results of collagen-binding assays. Moreover, the combination of the collagen binding-bFGF fusion protein (CB-bFGF) with injectable collagen powder induced bone formation at protein concentrations lower than those required for bFGF alone in mice fracture models. Taken together, these properties suggest that the CB-bFGF/collagen powder composite is a promising injectable material for bone repair in the clinical setting.
Keywords: Basic fibroblast growth factor; collagen-binding domain; collagenase; fracture healing; injectable collagen power.
© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.