Bladder Defect Repair by Polycaprolactone/Gelatin Nanofiber Scaffolds Loaded with Mitomycin Through Anti-Fibrotic...

Area of Science:

• Urological tissue engineering
• Biomaterials science
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• Bladder defect repair faces challenges like limited donor sources and immune rejection.
• Fibrotic scar formation impairs bladder function after surgery or injury.
• Developing advanced materials is crucial for effective bladder reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer novel nanofiber materials for bladder defect repair.
• To address clinical needs in conditions like tuberculous bladder contracture and traumatic rupture.
• To create a bionic, biocompatible, and anti-fibrotic material for urological applications.

Main Methods:

• Composite nanofibers of polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin (GEL) were fabricated using electrospinning.
• The optimal PCL/GEL ratio (7:3) was selected based on SEM, WCA, mechanical, and FTIR analyses.
• Mitomycin C (MMC) was incorporated to create PCL/GEL/MMC nanofibers, tested in a rat partial cystectomy model.

Main Results:

• The PCL/GEL (7:3) nanofibers exhibited suitable fiber diameter, water contact angle, and mechanical properties.
• PCL/GEL/MMC nanofiber materials demonstrated excellent biocompatibility with smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells.
• In vivo studies showed improved bladder capacity and morphology post-implantation with MMC-loaded nanofibers.

Conclusions:

• PCL/GEL nanofiber materials incorporating 0.02% MMC show significant anti-fibrotic effects.
• These materials offer a promising theoretical basis for clinical application in bladder defect repair.
• The developed nanofibers represent a potential advancement in urological tissue engineering.