Urinary bladder smooth muscle regeneration utilizing bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell seeded elastomeric poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) based thin films

Bladder regeneration studies have yielded inconclusive results possibly due to the use of unfavorable cells and primitive scaffold design. We hypothesized that human mesenchymal stem cells seeded onto poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) elastomeric thin films would provide a suitable milieu for partial bladder regeneration. POCfs were created by reacting citric acid with 1,8-octanediol and seeded on opposing faces with human MSCs and urothelial cells; normal bladder smooth muscle cells and UCs, or unseeded POCfs. Partial cystectomized nude rats were augmented with the aforementioned POCfs, enveloped with omentum and sacrificed at 4 and 10 weeks. Isolated bladders were subjected to Trichrome and anti-human γ-tubulin, calponin, caldesmon, smooth muscle γ-actin, and elastin stainings. Mechanical testing of POCfs revealed a Young’s modulus of 138 kPa with elongation 137% its initial length without permanent deformation demonstrating its high uniaxial elastic potential. Trichrome and immunofluorescent staining of MSC/UC POCf augmented bladders exhibited typical bladder architecture with muscle bundle formation and the expression and retention of bladder smooth muscle contractile proteins of human derivation. Quantitative morphometry of MSC/UC samples revealed muscle/collagen ratios approximately 1.75× greater than SMC/UC controls at 10 weeks. Data demonstrate MSC seeded POCfs support partial regeneration of bladder tissue in vivo.