Figure 6.

Proposed preclinical development pathway for biomaterial-based GF and cytokine delivery systems. Pathway includes three stages: design of the release system with regard to selection of wound indication, desired GF and/or cytokine release profile, biomaterial, and fabrication methods (1), in vitro testing in proteolytic environments and with skin cells (2) and in vivo work in clinically relevant chronic wound or excessive scarring models with macroscopic and histological readouts of healing and scarring outcomes along with blood analysis of protein and antibody levels (3). Note that testing should be conducted in comparison to direct protein administration.