Urethral reconstruction using an amphiphilic tissue-engineered autologous polyurethane nanofiber scaffold with rapid...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Urological Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Male urethral reconstruction presents significant challenges in urological treatment.
• Existing tissue-engineered grafts suffer from slow vascularization, leading to complications like stricture and blockage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel amphiphilic polyurethane tubular nanofiber scaffold for urethral reconstruction.
• To assess the scaffold's ability to promote vascularization and functional tissue regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hierarchical structured amphiphilic polyurethane tubular nanofiber scaffold.
• In vitro assessment of scaffold's effect on epithelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs).
• In vivo transplantation into Beagle puppies with defective urethral sites.

Main Results:

• The engineered scaffold successfully regulated EC and SMC phenotypic expression.
• Transplanted scaffolds induced controlled neo-vascularization at the defect site.
• Facilitated lumen epithelialization and functional rehabilitation of the urethra.

Conclusions:

• Nano-topographical and biochemical features are crucial for designing vascularized, biomimetic scaffolds.
• The developed PU-ran scaffold shows promise for effective urethral tissue-oriented reconstruction.
• Controlled vascularization is key to preventing complications and ensuring successful urethral repair.