title: Evaluating the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of nano-structured polymers for bladder tissue replacement applications.
abstract: Bladder cancers requiring radical cystectomy, along with congenital and acquired disorders which result in obstruction of the bladder, necessitate surgical measures (including augmentation); such diagnoses bring a clinical need for effective bladder replacement implant designs. Many recent approaches for the design of soft tissue replacement materials have relied on the use of synthetic polymeric substances; unfortunately, the optimal soft tissue implant material is yet to be found. This may, in part, be because current polymeric formulations fail to sufficiently biomimic the neighboring bladder tissue. This study took a brand new approach in designing the next generation of tissue-engineered bladder constructs through the use of nanotechnology, or materials with nanometer (less than 100 nm) surface features. Results provided evidence that nano-structured polymeric scaffolds (specifically, PLGA and PU) created using chemical etching techniques are capable of enhancing the human bladder smooth muscle cell adhesion, proliferation, and the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Preliminary in vivo results also speak to the usefulness of such nano-structured materials. In combination, these findings suggest that nano-dimensional PLGA and PU scaffolds are promising replacement materials for the human bladder wall.
authors.affiliation: Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, 206 S. Intramural Drive West Lafayette, IN 47907-2032, USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pattison
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaefer
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Haberstroh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006801:Humans; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D001743:Urinary Bladder
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D011140:Polyurethanes; C115016:polyetherurethane; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid