Subcutaneous angiogenesis induced by transdermal delivery of gel-in-oil nanogel dispersion

Abstract

Subcutaneous transplantation aims to enhance the growth and functionality of transplanted cells for therapeutic outcomes in tissue engineering. However, the limited subcutaneous vascular network poses a challenge. Conventional methods involve co-transplantation with endothelial cells or angiogenic scaffold implantation, but they have drawbacks like tissue inflammation, compromised endothelial cell functionality, and the risk of repeated scaffold transplantation. Effective techniques are needed to overcome these challenges. This study explores the potential of G/O-NGD, a gel-in-oil nanogel dispersion, as a transdermal carrier of proliferative factors to promote angiogenesis in subcutaneous graft beds before cell transplantation. We observed robust subcutaneous angiogenesis by delivering varying amounts of bFGF using the G/O-NGD emulsion. Quantitative analysis of several parameters confirmed the efficacy of this method for building a subcutaneous vascular network. G/O-NGD is a biodegradable material that facilitates localized transdermal delivery of bFGF while maintaining its activity. The findings of this study have significant implications in both medical and industrial fields.

Keywords: Angiogenesis; Gel-in-oil; Image analysis; Nanogel; Transdermal delivery; bFGF.