title: Characterization of nanostructured ureteral stent with gradient degradation in a porcine model.
abstract: A tubular poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) ureteral stent composed of nanofibers with micropores was fabricated by double-needle electrospinning. The stent was ureteroscopically inserted into six Changbai pigs, and the commercial polyurethane Shagong(®) stent was inserted into four pigs as control. Intravenous pyelography revealed that the PCL/PLGA stent gradually degraded from the distal end to proximal terminal, and all stents were completely degraded at 10 weeks post-insertion. No significant difference was observed in hydronephrosis severity between the two groups. The levels of serum creatinine and urine pH remained similar throughout the study in the two groups, but the number of white blood cells in the urine was significantly higher in the Shagong(®) stent group. On Day 70, histological evaluation indicated equivalent histological severity scores in the middle and distal ureter sections and bladder in the two groups. However, the PCL/PLGA stent-implanted pigs had significantly lower mean severity scores in the kidney and proximal ureter sites. These data revealed that the PCL/PLGA stent degraded in a controlled manner, did not induce obstruction, and had a lower urothelial impact in comparison to the Shagong(®) stent, indicating that the stent exhibited great potential for clinical application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hongli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jixue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuchuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianxun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qihui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chunxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xuesi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006869:Hydronephrosis; D007668:Kidney / Q000601:surgery*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000737:chemistry; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine; D014513:Ureter / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C516442:poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone); D011098:Polyglactin 910
keywords: hydronephrosis severity; nanocomposites; poly(lactide-co-glycolide); poly(ε-caprolactone); polyesters