Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Biomaterials as urinary system tissue engineering scaffolds should have excellent biocompatibility and be conducive to the cellular growth around tissue.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of preparing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) copolymer as a biodegradable urethral scaffold, and to evaluate ureteral histological changes after scaffold implantation.
METHODS: Nanometer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) copolymer was prepared as an urethral scaffold, which was cross-linked and modified with polylysine. The cross-linked scaffold was cut into 0.8-cm fragments, and then implanted into canine ureter for in vivo observation experiments.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Nanometer scaffold tube had a nano-structure, about 90% porosity, and (30±18) µm aperture, and fiber surface became rough after polylysine cross-linked modification. At 30 days after scaffold implantation, the scaffold was fused with the surrounding tissues and cleavage into small pieces. At 15 days after scaffold implantation, fiber epithelial shedding, structural disorders, and obvious inflammation were visible; at 30 days, inflammation was significantly improved, but tissue structure remains irregular; at 45 days, ureteral full-thickness tissue returned to be normal, and inflammation was improved. Experimental findings indicate that, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) copolymer implanted into the canine ureteral scaffold shows good biocompatibility, which is consistent with the requirements for urinary system tissue engineering scaffolds.