To characterize concentrated growth factors (CGFs) in vivo, we examined the degradation of implanted CGF in rabbits. Untreated CGF (U-CGF) and compressed CGF (C-CGF) were subcutaneously implanted into the dorsum. Histological analyses showed that the U-CGF and C-CGF induced very few inflammatory cells and that the U-CGF and C-CGF were subsequently degraded with dendritic invasion of granulation tissue. The C-CGF histopathologically remained for longer term than the U-CGF. Aggregated CD31+ and RAM11+ cells appeared in and around the implanted CGF. The number of macrophages and blood vessels in the CGF-implanted groups was greater than that in the sham group. There were more blood vessels in the U-CGF group than that in the C-CGF and sham group. We showed that CGF was degraded by macrophages in 4 weeks and enhanced angiogenesis with dendritically branching new capillaries. Therefore, the U-CGF and C-CGF can be clinically applied as a biomaterial inducing angiogenesis.
Keywords: Concentrated growth factor; Tissue regeneration; Wound healing.