In vivo
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Growth factors play an important role in tissue repair. While the effectiveness of growth factor therapy in animal wound healing models and limited human clinical trials has been demonstrated, the ideal method for their administration to the wound remains unclear. Experimental data suggest that the continuous presence in the early stages of wound repair is beneficial. ⋯ A single application of irradiated EGF genetransfected fibroblasts to wounds can thus continuously deliver the transgene in vivo and could be used to administer drugs to the wound bed during the crucial first seven days of wound-healing.