Enzyme-mediated modification of fibrin for tissue engineering: incorporation of proteins

Abstract

Disclosed are materials that may be used in the design of improved devices and wound treatment platforms though covalent and/or non-covalent attachment of bioactive proteins. The proteins comprise any variety of cell growth and/or healing promoting proteins, such as growth factor. The incorporation of these whole proteins may be designed to provide controlled release thereof in a biological system through further use of enzyme degradation sites. Heparin-binding protein or fusion proteins synthesized to contain a heparin-binding domain are two mechanisms that may be used in providing these properties to a matrix, such as a fibrinogen matrix. The proteins will be used to provide enhanced healing in various tissues including vasculature, skin, nerve, and liver. The materials disclosed will be used to enhance would?? Healing and other generative processes by engineering the fibrin gel to contain appropriate proteins with specifically designed release and/or degradation characteristics.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.