title: Application of Wnt Pathway Inhibitor Delivering Scaffold for Inhibiting Fibrosis in Urethra Strictures: In Vitro and in Vivo Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the mechanical property and biocompatibility of the Wnt pathway inhibitor (ICG-001) delivering collagen/poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (P(LLA-CL)) scaffold for urethroplasty, and also the feasibility of inhibiting the extracellular matrix (ECM) expression in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  ICG-001 (1 mg (2 mM)) was loaded into a (P(LLA-CL)) scaffold with the co-axial electrospinning technique. The characteristics of the mechanical property and drug release fashion of scaffolds were tested with a mechanical testing machine (Instron) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Rabbit bladder epithelial cells and the dermal fibroblasts were isolated by enzymatic digestion method. (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate the viability and proliferation of the cells on the scaffolds. Fibrolasts treated with TGF-β1 and ICG-001 released medium from scaffolds were used to evaluate the anti-fibrosis effect through immunofluorescence, real time PCR and western blot. Urethrography and histology were used to evaluate the efficacy of urethral implantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The scaffold delivering ICG-001 was fabricated, the fiber diameter and mechanical strength of scaffolds with inhibitor were comparable with the non-drug scaffold. The SEM and MTT assay showed no toxic effect of ICG-001 to the proliferation of epithelial cells on the collagen/P(LLA-CL) scaffold with ICG-001. After treatment with culture medium released from the drug-delivering scaffold, the expression of Collagen type 1, 3 and fibronectin of fibroblasts could be inhibited significantly at the mRNA and protein levels. In the results of urethrography, urethral strictures and fistulas were found in the rabbits treated with non-ICG-001 delivering scaffolds, but all the rabbits treated with ICG-001-delivering scaffolds showed wide caliber in urethras. Histology results showed less collagen but more smooth muscle and thicker epithelium in urethras repaired with ICG-001 delivering scaffolds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After loading with the Wnt signal pathway inhibitor ICG-001, the Collagen/P(LLA-CL) scaffold could facilitate a decrease in the ECM deposition of fibroblasts. The ICG-001 delivering Collagen/P(LLA-CL) nanofibrous scaffold seeded with epithelial cells has the potential to be a promising substitute material for urethroplasty. Longer follow-up study in larger animals is needed in the future.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Urology, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Yishan Road 600, Shanghai 200233, China. great_z0313@126.com.
authors.forename: Kaile
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, College of Chemistry &amp; Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, North Renmin Road 2999, Shanghai 201620, China. ibmguoxuran@163.com.
authors.forename: Xuran
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA. wezhao@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Weixin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA. gniu@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Guoguang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, College of Chemistry &amp; Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, North Renmin Road 2999, Shanghai 201620, China. xmm@dhu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiumei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: The Department of Urology, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Yishan Road 600, Shanghai 200233, China. jamesqfu@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014521:Urethra; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D024042:Collagen Type I; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; C492448:ICG 001; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
keywords: Wnt signaling pathway; electrospinning; regenerative medicine; tissue engineering; urethra