Bioactive porous beads as an injectable urethral bulking agent: their in vitro evaluation on smooth muscle cell differentiation

Tissue Eng Part A. 2011 Mar;17(5-6):655-64. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2010.0430. Epub 2010 Nov 18.

Abstract

Growth factor (basic fibroblast growth factor or vascular endothelial growth factor)-immobilized polycaprolactone (PCL)/Pluronic F127 porous beads were prepared as an injectable bulking agent for effective treatment of urinary incontinence. The growth factor-immobilized porous beads may stimulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation of muscle-derived stem cells or defect tissues around urethra to improve the sphincter function (bioactive therapy) as well as to provide a bulking effect (passive therapy). The porous PCL/F127 beads were fabricated by an isolated particle-melting/melt-molding particulate-leaching method. The growth factors were easily immobilized onto the surfaces of the PCL/F127 porous beads via heparin binding and were continuously released for up to 28 days. Both growth factor-immobilized porous beads had a positive effect for the SMC differentiation of muscle-derived stem cells, as were demonstrated by the analyses of quantitative polymerase chain reactions, Western blot using SMC-specific markers, and immunohistochemical staining. In particular, the basic fibroblast growth factor-immobilized porous beads showed desirable SMC differentiation behavior that can be applied as an injectable bulking agent for the treatment of urinary incontinence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Heparin / metabolism
  • Immobilized Proteins / metabolism
  • Injections
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microspheres*
  • Muscles / cytology
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / cytology*
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / drug effects
  • Poloxamer / pharmacology*
  • Polyesters / chemistry
  • Polyesters / pharmacology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Porosity / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Urethra / drug effects*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Immobilized Proteins
  • Polyesters
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Poloxamer
  • polycaprolactone
  • Heparin
  • DNA