In vitro Studies on Binding and Release of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Heparinized Bovine Pericardiums

Objective： To investigate binding and release of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and its effect on adhesion and proliferation of endothelial cells （ECs） in acellular fresh specimens of bovine pericardiums, which were modified by heparinization. Methods： Cross-linked aeellular fresh specimens of bovine perieardiums were heparinized by three methods： （1） heparinizcd N-（3-diinethylaminopropyl）-N＇-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride （EDC） treated acellular tissue samples; （2） heparinized poly（ethyleneimine） （PEI） treated acellular tissue samples; （3） heparinized EDC-PEI treated aeellular tissue samples. Controlled release of VEGF and its effect on adhesion and proliferation of ECs was evaluated. Results： In the present study, binding and release of VEGF had better performance in heparinized EDC-PEI treated group, compared with heparinized EDC-alone treated group and heparinized PEI -alone group. We could observe enhanced ability to adhesion and proliferation via modest moisture and effective controlled binding and release of VEGF. Conclusion： Binding of VEGF in heparinized EDC treated group was stable, while reiease of VEGF in heparinized treated group was adjusted freely. Interestingly, controlled binding and release of VEGF could exert beneficial effect on adhesion and proliferation of ECs in heparinized EDC-PEI treated group.