Regulating VEGF signaling in platelet concentrates via specific VEGF sequestering

Platelets contain an abundance of growth factors that mimic the composition of the wound healing milieu, and platelet-derived VEGF in particular can negatively influence wound healing if unregulated. Here, we sought to capture and regulate the activity of VEGF factor from human platelets using poly(ethylene glycol) microspheres. In this communication, we demonstrate that platelet freeze/thaw produced significantly higher levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) than either calcium chloride treatment, protease activated receptor 1 activating peptide (PAR1AP) treatment, or thrombin treatment. PEG microspheres containing a VEGF-binding peptide (VBP), derived from VEGFR2, sequestered VEGF from platelet concentrate, prepared via freeze/thaw, and reduced the bioactivity of platelet concentrate in HUVEC culture, which suggests that VBP microspheres sequestered and reduced the activity of VEGF from patient-derived platelets. Here, we demonstrate the ability of VEGF sequestering microspheres to regulate the activity of VEGF derived from a growth factor-rich autologous human blood product.