The number of cases of erectile dysfunction (ED) caused after radical prostatectomy (RP) prostate cancer treatment is increasing steadily. Although various studies have been conducted for treatment of post-RP ED, there is still a need for more effective methods. A dual growth factor incorporated heparin-pluronic/gelatin-poly(ethylene glycol)-tyramine (HP/GPT) hydrogel, which consists of a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-loaded HP hydrogel and nerve growth factor (NGF)-loaded GPT hydrogel, can control dose and rate of growth factor release. In this study, we demonstrated that dual growth factor incorporated HP/GPT hydrogel could further improve erectile function in a rat model of bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI). We showed that erectile function was decreased after BCNI, but it was further improved by treatment with a dual growth factor incorporated HP/GPT hydrogel compared with groups treated with single growth factor in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury. Also, we observed an increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in the dual growth factor group when compared with the groups treated with single growth factor. This effect was associated with greater upregulation of nitric oxide synthase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in the penile tissue of the group treated with dual growth factor incorporated HP/GPT than in the other experimental groups. Apoptosis in the penile tissue treated with the dual growth factor incorporated HP/GPT hydrogel was lower than those treated singly with either bFGF or NGF incorporated GPT hydrogel. Both α-smooth muscle actin and CD31 expression increased in the group treated with dual growth factor incorporated HP/GPT hydrogel when compared to in the other experimental groups. Altogether, our results proved that the sequential and continuous release of growth factors from dual growth factor incorporated HP/GPT hydrogel prevented fibrosis and nerve damage induced by BCNI in the corpus cavernosum, and promoted the recovery of erectile function. Dual growth factor incorporated HP/GPT hydrogel may be a potent clinical application for the treatment of post-RP ED and could potentially be used various biomedical application in tissue regnerative medicine.
Keywords: NGF; bFGF; biocompatible materials; erectile dysfunction; growth factor; hydrogel.