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

We evaluated the efficacy of a magnetic liposomal delivery system of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) 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-beta(1) 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-beta(1) under magnetic force was significantly effective in the repair of the defect site over 12 weeks after surgery. Injection of TGF-beta(1) 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-beta(1) at the target site. Copyright 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.