Muscular tubes of urethra engineered from adipose-derived stem cells and polyglycolic acid mesh in a bioreactor

Biotechnol Lett. 2014 Sep;36(9):1909-16. doi: 10.1007/s10529-014-1554-x. Epub 2014 Jun 15.

Abstract

We have explored the feasibility of using adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and polyglycolic acid (PGA) for constructing muscular tubes of urethra in a bioreactor. With the induction of by 5-azacytidine, ADSCs were found to acquire a myoblast phenotype. Here we seeded ADSCs in a PGA mesh to construct the cell-PGA complex that was cultured statically for 1 week. Afterwards, the cell-PGA complex was subjected to extension stimulation in a bioreactor for 5 weeks. A muscular tube of urethra was formed after 6 weeks. Histological examination showed differentiated ADSCs and collagenous fibers had orientated well. This study demonstrates that tissue engineering of urethra tissues in vitro by using a bioreactor leads to tissue maturation and the differentiation of ADSCs. This novel technique could provide an effective approach for urethra tissue engineering.

MeSH terms

  • Bioreactors
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Myoblasts / physiology*
  • Polyglycolic Acid / metabolism*
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Urethra / physiology*

Substances

  • Polyglycolic Acid