Efficiency of magnetic liposomal transforming growth factor‐beta 1 in the repair of articular cartilage defects in a rabbit model

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Abstract
We evaluated the efficacy of a magnetic liposomal delivery system of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 in the treatment of articular cartilage defects in a rabbit model. Articular cartilage defects were created in the patellar groove of rabbits, and a permanent magnet or a nonmagnetic alloy was implanted in the defect site. Magnetic liposomal drugs, prepared by the conventional film method and sonication, were injected into the defect site 1 week after surgery. First, the efficacy of the magnetic liposomal delivery system was evaluated by using a model compound fluorescence‐labeled dextran 40,000 (FD‐40). Then, the therapeutic efficiency of magnetic liposomal TGF‐β1 was evaluated by cartilage histological scoring at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. The injected magnetic liposomal FD‐40 accumulated at the target site where a permanent magnet had been implanted. The histological score showed that the injection of magnetic liposomal TGF‐β1 under magnetic force was significantly effective in the repair of the defect site over 12 weeks after surgery. Injection of TGF‐β1 into the cartilage defect was effective as a magnetic liposomal preparation under magnetic force, resulting in acceleration of the cartilage repair, probably because of the desirable accumulation of TGF‐β1 at the target site. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 73A: 255–263, 2005