Experimental application of tissue engineered constructions for urethroplasty

Introduction. For diseases such as stricture and obliteration of the urethra, urethral hypospadias, reconstructive operations are required. The buccal mucosa is the material most commonly used for these operations. The search for alternative materials, carried out in order to reduce trauma and complications in the donor area, is an urgent area of modern urology. Tissue engineered constructions (TEC) can be used as such material.Objective. Justification of the possibility of applying a TEC based on the biodegradable polymers and seeded with autologous buccal epithelium (BE) cells as an implantable material for urethroplasty in an experiment.Methods and Materials. TEC based on poly-L-lactide-caprolactone (PLC) and poly-L-lactide-glycolide (PLG) seeded with BCs was created. Rabbits (n=12) underwent a biopsy of the oral mucosa, BCs were isolated, cultured and PLC-PLG scaffold was seeded with cells. TECs seeded with autological BCs were used on the model of acute trauma of rabbit urethra for replacement urethroplasty.Results. The results were evaluated after 12 weeks, according to the histological examination, there was a repair of the urethral mucosa. According to the data of retrograde urethrography, no impaired urethra patency was detected.Conclusion. TEC (PLK-PLG) seeded with autologous BCs ensured the maintenance of the rabbit urethral lumen which is necessary for adequate urination. This TEC could be recommended for the further clinical studies.