Anti‐VEGF antibody delivered locally reduces bony bar formation following physeal injury in rats

• DOI: 10.1002/jor.24907
• Publication Date: 2020-11-12T08:31:35Z
• Authors: Christopher B. Er...; Jake P. Newsom; Nathan A. Fletcher; Yangyi Yu; Francisco Rodrigu...; Shane A. Weatherford; Nancy Hadley‐Miller; Melissa D. Krebs; Karin A. Payne
• Keywords: Male; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; 0301 basic medicine; Chitosan; Alginates; Hydrogels; Antibodies; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals; Female; Growth Plate

Physeal injuries can result in the formation of a "bony bar" which lead to bone growth arrest and deformities children. Vascular endothelial factor (VEGF) has been shown play role bony bar formation, making it potential target inhibit repair tissue after physeal injury. The goal this study was investigate whether local delivery anti-VEGF antibody (α-VEGF; 7.5 μg) from alginate:chitosan hydrogels tibial injury site rats prevents formation. We tested effects quick or delayed α-VEGF using both 90:10 50:50 ratio hydrogels, respectively. Male female 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley received injured injected with alginate-chitosan hydrogels: (1) (Quick Release); (2) + Release α-VEGF); (3) (Slow (4) (5) Untreated. At 2, 4, 24 weeks postinjury, animals were euthanized tibiae assessed for vessel type, limb lengthening. Our results indicate that Quick reduced while also increasing cartilage tissue. Further, release neither affected lengthening nor caused deleterious side-effects adjacent, uninjured physis. This treatment, inhibits without interfering normal elongation, could have positive implications children suffering injuries.