Wound healing

Abstract

A composition for use in the treatment of wounds to inhibit scar tissue formation during healing is disclosed, comprising an effective activity-inhibiting amount of a growth factor neutralising agent or agents specific against only fibrotic growth factors together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The method of preparation of said composition and method of administering the composition to a host suffering from tissue wounding is also disclosed.

1 . A composition for use in the treatment of wounds to inhibit scar tissue formation during healing, comprising an effective activity-inhibiting amount of a growth factor neutralising agent or agents specific against only fibrotic growth factors together with a pharmaceutically acceptible carrier.  
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is a growth factor neutralising antibody.  
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the growth factor neutralising antibody is selected from anti-TGF-β1 antibody, anti-TGF-β2-antibody and anti-PDGF-antibody.  
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is a growth factor receptor blocking agent.  
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the growth factor receptor blocking agent is a peptide containing the receptor binding site of the growth factor.  
     
     
         6 . A composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the peptide contains the receptor binding site for TGF-β1 or TGF-β2 or PDGF.  
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is a molecule which binds to the growth factor to inhibit receptor binding.  
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the growth factor is selected from TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 and the molecule is selected from Decorin and Biglycan.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is an antisense oligonucleotide to growth factor mRNA.  
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is a ribosyme(s) active against growth factor mRNA.  
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is a soluble form of the receptor or the growth factor binding domain of the receptor.  
     
     
         12 . A composition according to any preceding claims wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is present in an active form.  
     
     
         13 . A composition according to cliams  1  to  11 , wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is present in an inactive form.  
     
     
         14 . A compostion according to  claim 13 , wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is inactivated by being encapsulated.  
     
     
         15 . A composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the capsules are degradable by an external stimulus to release the active growth factor neutralising agent when required.  
     
     
         16 . A composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the external stimulus includes UV light, in vivo enzymes, ultrasound or heat.  
     
     
         17 . A composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the growth factor neutralising agent is inactivated by the molecular addition of a binding molecule.  
     
     
         18 . A composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the binding molecule is detached from and releases active growth factor neutralising agent by an external stimulus including UV light, in vivo enzymes, ultrasound or heat.  
     
     
         19 . A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a neutral sterile cream, gel, aerosol or powder for topical application.  
     
     
         20 . A composition according to calims  1  to  18 , wherein the phamaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a sterile solution for injection, irrigation or inhalation.  
     
     
         21 . A composition according to  claims 1  to  18 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a sterile dressing for topically covering a wound.  
     
     
         22 . A composition according to  claim 21 , wherein the dressing comprises a biodegradable/absorbable polymer.  
     
     
         23 . A composition according to  claims 1  to  18 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a bioploymer/polymer for implanting within the wound.  
     
     
         24 . A composition according to any preceding claim, comprising active cytokines.  
     
     
         25 . A method of preparation of a pharmaceutical composition containing the growth factor neutralising agent or agents specific against only fibrotic growth factors for applying the composition topically in a cream, gel, aerosol, powder, dressing or patch or in a solution for injection, irrigation or inhalation, or as a control release implant.  
     
     
         26 . A method of preparation according to  claim 25 , wherein the composition comprises active cytokines.  
     
     
         27 . A method of inhibiting scar tissue formation during the healing of wounds, said method consisting in administering to a host suffering from tissue wounding a growth factor neutralising agent or agents specific against only fibrotic growth factors in the wound area in a dosage effective to reduce activity of one or more growth factors involved in the process that leads to the formation of scar tissue during healing.