title: Dual growth factor-loaded in situ gel-forming bulking agent: passive and bioactive effects for the treatment of urinary incontinence.
abstract: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is one of the major medical problems for adult females and has a devastating effect on their quality of life. The major cause of the development of the SUI is dysfunction of the urethral supporting tissues as a result of aging and childbirth. In this study, in situ gel-forming bulking agent loaded with dual growth factors, nerve growth factor (NGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), was fabricated. The bulking agent consisted of three components; (i) polycaprolactone (PCL) beads, (ii) bFGF-loaded nanogels, and (iii) NGF-loaded in situ gel forming solution. The bulking agent can provide an initial passive bulking effect (from the PCL beads) and regenerate malfunctioning tissues around the urethra (from the sequential and continuous release of growth factors from the hydrogel) for the effective treatment of SUI. The PCL beads were located stably at the applied urethra site (urinary incontinent SD rat) without migration to provide a passive bulking effect. The sequential release of the growth factors (NGF within a week and bFGF for more than 4 weeks) from the bulking agent provided regeneration of damaged nerve and smooth muscle, and thus enhanced biological function around the urethra. From the findings, we suggest that dual growth factor (NGF and bFGF)-loaded in situ gel-forming bulking agent may be a promising injectable bioactive system for the treatment for SUI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanobiomedical Science & BK21 PLUS NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University, 119 Dandae Ro, Dongnam Gu, Cheonan, 330-714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Se Heang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Jun Goo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: In Gul
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joo Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Ji Youl
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki Dong
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011788:Quality of Life; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014521:Urethra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011091:Polyesters; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C016240:polycaprolactone; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor