Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) are unique molecules with a specific biological activity for inducing ectopic bone formation when implanted with a suitable carrier matrix. However, incorporation of BMP into the carrier has disadvantages, including early burst release and protein degradation in biological environments. Therefore, we considered that the next greatest challenge in achieving successful clinical use was the development of a carrier system for site-specific delivery of the morphogenetic signal of BMP. In this study, a novel BMP-2-derived oligopeptide, NSVNSKIPKACCVPTELSAI, was coupled covalently to alginate. Then NSVNSKIPKACCVPTELSAI-linked alginate hydrogel composites were implanted into the calf muscle of rats and harvested 3 or 8 weeks after surgery. Ectopic bone formation was observed in alginate hydrogel linked with BMP-2-derived peptide. It is suggested that alginate hydrogel linked with an oligopeptide derived from BMP-2 might provide an alternative system for topical delivery of the morphogenetic signal of BMP-2.
Apoptotic cell death serves important roles in homeostasis by eliminating dangerous, damaged, or unnecessary cells without causing an inflammatory response by externalizing phosphatidylserine to the outer leaflet in the phospholipid bilayer. In this study, we newly designed apoptotic cell membrane-inspired monomer and polymer which have the phosphoryl serine group as the antiinflammatory functional moiety and demonstrate here for the first time that administration of an apoptotic cell membrane-inspired phosphorylserine polymer can protect murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) from lipopolysaccharideinduced inflammation. Interestingly, statistical copolymers with phosphorylcholine monomer that mimicked more precisely the apoptotic cell membrane result in more effective suppression of macrophage activation. This study provides new insights into the rational design of effective polymeric materials for anti-inflammatory therapies.
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