Abstract
Stimulation of natural repair processes with growth factors or cytokines has emerged as an alternative to therapies of tissue or organ failure by surgical treatments. To overcome the poor performance of growth factors, biomaterials in which the decision on dose, location and release of growth factors are coupled to cellular activity at the treatment site are being developed. We summarize biomimetic approaches to entrap growth factors within cell-degradable polymer matrices from which the release can be controlled by cell-demanded mechanism. Preclinical results indicating that such biomimetic solutions for localized and prolonged growth factor delivery could improve therapeutic effects are given.
Milleret, V