초록 |
TGF-β is most effective human growth factor to articular cartilage and chondrocyte, so it has been reported as therapeutic agent for osteoarthritis. But its short half-life and expensive costs were a most mooted point as therapeutic agent for osteoarthritis, so we attempted to increase its half-life by conjugation with LMC(low molecular chitosan) by using EDC as a cross-linking agent. After preparation of TGF-β-LMC conjugates, we performed in Vitro and in Vivo test to determine the suitability of TGF-β-LMC conjugates as a therapeutic agent for Osteoarthritis. TGF-β-LMC conjugates was used to determine its biological effects on the proliferation of chondrocytes in Vitro and the repair of articular cartilage defect in Vivo. Free chondrocytes were isolated from the knee joint of rabbit by treating collagenase and twelve skeletally mature male New Zealand rabbits weighing 3-4Kg were used in animal experiment. And as a result, TGF-β-LMC conjugates was considered potent drug as a therapeutic agent for osteoarthritis repair. |