Bioactive porous beads as an injectable urethral bulking agent: in vivo animal study for the treatment of urinary incontinence

Tissue Eng Part A. 2011 Jun;17(11-12):1527-35. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2010.0600. Epub 2011 Mar 3.

Abstract

In our previous study, growth factor (basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF] or vascular endothelial growth factor)-immobilized polycaprolactone (PCL)/Pluronic F127 porous beads were fabricated by an isolated particle-melting/melt-molding particulate-leaching method. The growth factors were easily immobilized onto the pore surfaces of the PCL/F127 beads via heparin binding, and were continuously released for up to 28 days. In this study, the growth factor-immobilized porous beads were investigated for their potential use as an injectable urethral bulking agent for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). From the in vivo study using Sprague-Dawley rats as an urinary incontinent animal model, it was observed that the growth factor (bFGF or vascular endothelial growth factor)-immobilized porous beads had effective cure behaviors for SUI as follows: the narrowed urethral lumen and the regeneration of smooth muscle around the urethra. In particular, the bFGF-immobilized PCL/F127 porous beads showed desirable smooth muscle regeneration and electrical contractility, which indicates it can be a good candidate as an injectable bioactive bulking agent for the treatment of SUI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology*
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena / drug effects
  • Immobilized Proteins / pharmacology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Injections
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microspheres*
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Poloxamer / pharmacology*
  • Polyesters / pharmacology*
  • Porosity / drug effects
  • Pressure
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Urethra / drug effects*
  • Urethra / pathology
  • Urethra / physiopathology
  • Urinary Incontinence / pathology
  • Urinary Incontinence / physiopathology
  • Urinary Incontinence / therapy*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Immobilized Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Polyesters
  • Poloxamer
  • polycaprolactone