title: Toward a new generation of pelvic floor implants with electrospun nanofibrous matrices: A feasibility study.
abstract: The use of knitted, polypropylene meshes for the surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is frequently accompanied by severe complications. Looking for alternatives, we studied the potential of three different electrospun matrices in supporting the adhesion, proliferation, and matrix deposition of POP and non-POP fibroblasts, the most important cells to produce extracellular matrix (ECM), in vitro.
  
  
  
  We electrospun three commonly used medical materials: nylon; poly (lactide-co-glycolide) blended with poly-caprolactone (PLGA/PCL); and poly-caprolactone blended with gelatin (PCL/Gelatin). The matrices were characterized for their microstructure, hydrophilicity, and mechanical properties. We seeded POP and non-POP fibroblasts from patients with POP and we determined cellular responses and ECM deposition.
  
  
  
  All matrices had >65% porosity, homogenous microstructures, and close to sufficient tensile strength for pelvic floor repair: 15.4 ± 3.3 MPa for Nylon; 12.4 ± 1.6 MPa for PLGA/PCL; and 3.5 ± 0.9 MPa for PCL/Gelatin. Both the POP and non-POP cells adhered to the electrospun matrices; they proliferated well and produced ample ECM. Overall, the best in vitro performance appeared to be on nylon, presumably because this was the most hydrophilic material with the thinnest fibers.
  
  
  
  Electrospun nanofibrous matrices show feasible mechanical strength and great biocompatibility for POP and non-POP fibroblasts to produce their ECM in vitro and, thus, may be candidates for a new generation of implants for pelvic floor repair. Further studies on electrospun nanofibrous matrices should focus on mechanical and immunological conditions that would be presented in vivo. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:565-573, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, VU University Medical Center, MOVE Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Oral Cell Biology, ACTA-University of Amsterdam and VU University, MOVE Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Mahshid
authors: M
authors: Vashaghian
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, VU University Medical Center, MOVE Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Alejandra M
authors: AM
authors: Ruiz-Zapata
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Manon H
authors: MH
authors: Kerkhof
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, VU University Medical Center, MOVE Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Oral Cell Biology, ACTA-University of Amsterdam and VU University, MOVE Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Behrouz
authors: B
authors: Zandieh-Doulabi
authors: Department of Materials, ACTA-University of Amsterdam and VU University, MOVE Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Arie
authors: A
authors: Werner
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Jan Paul
authors: JP
authors: Roovers
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, VU University Medical Center, MOVE Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Theo H
authors: TH
authors: Smit
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D057139:Nanofibers; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D023822:Tissue Engineering
keywords: electrospinning; extracellular matrix; nanofibrous matrices; pelvic organ prolapse; vaginal fibroblasts