Nanosphere-mediated co-delivery of VEGF-A and PDGF-B genes for accelerating diabetic foot ulcers healing in rats

Diabetic ischemic ulcer is an intractable diabetic complication. Angiogenesis is a critical factor for wound healing in patients with diabetic foot wounds. Sustained gene delivery could be notably necessary in modulating gene expression in chronic ulcer healing and might be a promising approach for diabetic foot ulcers. In the present study, Sprague–Dawley rats were used to establish diabetic foot ulcer models by streptozotocin and skin biopsy punch. The plasmids expressing VEGF-A and PDGF-B were prepared and then incorporated with polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanospheres to upregulate genes expression. The aim of this study was to explore whether the engineered VEGF-A and PDGF-B based plasmid-loaded nanospheres could be upregulated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and improve the wound healing. The cultured fibroblasts could be effectively transfected by means of nanosphere/plasmid in vitro. In vivo, the expression of VEGF-A and PDGF-B was significantly upregulated at full-thickness foot dorsal skin wounds and the area of ulceration was progressively and significantly reduced following treatment with nanosphere/plasmid. These results indicated that combined gene transfer of VEGF-A and PDGF-B could improve reparative processes in the wounded skin of diabetic rats and nanosphere may be a potential non-viral vector for gene therapy of the diabetic foot ulcer.