@article {217121,
	title = {Sustained vascular endothelial growth factor delivery enhances angiogenesis and perfusion in ischemic hind limb},
	journal = {Pharm Res},
	volume = {22},
	number = {7},
	year = {2005},
	month = {2005 Jul},
	pages = {1110-6},
	abstract = {PURPOSE: We hypothesized that sustained delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using a polymer [85:15 poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG)] would enhance angiogenesis and improve perfusion of ischemic tissue.

METHODS: C57BL/6J mice (n = 20/group) underwent unilateral hind limb ischemia surgery and were randomized to groups of no scaffold implantation (0-Implant), unloaded scaffold implantation (Empty-PLG), or implantation of scaffolds incorporating 3 microg of VEGF165 (PLG-VEGF). Endpoints included laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI, ischemic/nonischemic limb, \%), local vessel counts, immunohistochemistry for CD31, and alpha-smooth muscle actin. In vitro release kinetics of VEGF from PLG was also measured.

RESULTS: PLG-VEGF resulted in improved lower extremity perfusion vs. controls as measured by LDPI\% at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days (p < 0.05). PLG-VEGF was associated with significantly greater percentage of vessels staining for CD31 and alpha-smooth muscle actin compared to the Empty-PLG or 0-Implant (p < 0.05 for both).

CONCLUSIONS: The PLG-VEGF scaffolds resulted in sustained VEGF delivery, improved tissue perfusion, greater capillary density, and more mature vasculature compared to the controls. The sustained-release PLG polymer vehicle is a promising delivery system for therapeutic neovascularization applications.},
	keywords = {Actins, Animals, Antigens, CD31, Biocompatible Materials, Capillaries, Disease Models, Animal, Drug Carriers, Hindlimb, Humans, Ischemia, Lactic Acid, Laser-Doppler Flowmetry, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Muscle, Skeletal, Neovascularization, Physiologic, Perfusion, Polyglycolic Acid, Polymers, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A},
	issn = {0724-8741},
	doi = {10.1007/s11095-005-5644-2},
	author = {Sun, Qinghua and Chen, Ruth R and Shen, Yuechun and Mooney, David J and Rajagopalan, Sanjay and Grossman, P Michael}
}
