To investigate the antiangiogenic potential of encapsulated VEGF165b producing HEK293 cells, Human Embryonic Kidney 293 (HEK293) cells were stably transfected to produce VEGF165b. Then they were encapsulated in alginate - polylysine -alginate (APA) microcapsules. VEGF165b productivity and viability of encapsulated cells were analyzed and compared with the non-encapsulated cells. Results showed that encapsulated cells proliferated and remained viable within the microcapsules throughout the 28-day period of the experiment. The quantity of VEGF165b increased from 6.5 ± 1.2 μg/ml at day 13 to 13 ± 0.96 μg/ml at day 16. Then it gradually dropped to 5 ± 1.2 μg/ml for the last 3 days period as measured at day 28. Production of VEGF165b from
encapsulated and non-encapsulated cells was similar. The effect of VEGF165b harvested from encapsulated cells on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation were also examined.The same inhibitory effects on HUVECs proliferation was seen when the cells were incubated with a mixture of VEGF165b and a 2-fold VEGF165b or with VEGF165b and 2-fold excess VEGF165b released from encapsulated cells. Subcutaneous injection of microencapsulated VEGF165b producing cells in tumor site of nude mice resulted in the reduction of the number of vessels around the tumors
