Enhanced angiogenesis in bFGF-containing scaffold promoted viability of enclosed hepatocytes and maintained hepatospecific glycogen storage capacity

We fabricated a scaffold of poly (lactic acid) and acidic gelatin, a sustained-release carrier of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which is a positive regulator of angiogenesis. After 1 week of implantation into mesentery of rats, blood vessels induced in the bFGF-containing scaffolds were almost double those in the bFGF-free scaffolds. Further, histological examination of hepatocyte-immobilizing scaffolds retrieved after 1 week of implantation into the mesentery of the rats that received a 70% hepatectomy revealed that the bFGF-containing scaffolds were more efficient for immobilized cell survival than the bFGF-free scaffolds. As well, hepatocytes in the bFGF-containing scaffolds kept their hepatospecific glycogen storage capacity.