Adipose-derived stem-cell-implanted poly(ϵ-caprolactone)/chitosan scaffold improves bladder regeneration in a rat model

The study investigated the feasibility of seeding adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) onto a poly(ϵ-caprolactone)/chitosan (PCL/CS) scaffold for bladder reconstruction using a rat model of bladder augmentation.

In the experimental group, the autologous ASCs were seeded onto the PCL/CS scaffold for bladder augmentation. An unseeded scaffold was used for bladder augmentation as control group. The sham group was also set.

8 weeks after implantation, more densely smooth muscles were detected in the experimental group with a larger bladder capacity and more intensive blood vessels. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that some of the smooth muscle cells were transdifferentiated from the ASCs.

Our findings indicated that ASC-seeded PCL/CS may be a potential scaffold for bladder tissue engineering.