2 research outputs found
The Regenerative Capacity of Tissue-Engineered Amniotic Membranes
Scaffolds can be
introduced as a source of tissue in
reconstructive
surgery and can help to improve wound healing. Amniotic membranes
(AMs) as scaffolds for tissue engineering have emerged as promising
biomaterials for surgical reconstruction due to their regenerative
capacity, biocompatibility, gradual degradability, and availability.
They also promote fetal-like scarless healing and provide a bioactive
matrix that stimulates cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation.
The aim of this study was to create a tissue-engineered AM-based implant
for the repair of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), a defect between the
bladder and vagina caused by prolonged obstructed labor. Layers of
AMs (with or without cross-linking) and electrospun poly-4-hydroxybutyrate
(P4HB) (a synthetic, degradable polymer) scaffold were joined together
by fibrin glue to produce a multilayer scaffold. Human vaginal fibroblasts
were seeded on the different constructs and cultured for 28 days.
Cell proliferation, cell morphology, collagen deposition, and metabolism
measured by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity were evaluated.
Vaginal fibroblasts proliferated and were metabolically active on
the different constructs, producing a distributed layer of collagen
and proMMP-2. Cell proliferation and the amount of produced collagen
were similar across different groups, indicating that the different
AM-based constructs support vaginal fibroblast function. Cell morphology
and collagen images showed slightly better alignment and organization
on the un-cross-linked constructs compared to the cross-linked constructs.
It was concluded that the regenerative capacity of AM does not seem
to be affected by mechanical reinforcement with cross-linking or the
addition of P4HB and fibrin glue. An AM-based implant for surgical
repair of internal organs requiring load-bearing functionality can
be directly translated to other types of surgical reconstruction of
internal organs
Vaginal Fibroblast Behavior as a Function of Stiffness Changes in a Polyisocyanide Hydrogel for Prolapse Repair
There is an urgent
need for improved outcomes in the treatment
of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Success of primary surgery relies
on the load bearing capacity of plicated connective tissue underneath
the vaginal wall, which is compromised due to an altered vaginal fibroblast
function and collagen composition. There is an important factor in
connective tissue repair that relates to changes in stiffness of the
vaginal fibroblast microenvironment, which influences cell activity
through cellular mechanosensing. The aim of this study is to investigate
the effect of stiffness changes on vaginal fibroblast functions that
relate to connective tissue healing in prolapse repair. The substrate
stiffness was controlled by changing the polymer concentration in
the fibrous and strongly biomimetic polyisocyanide (PIC) hydrogel.
We analyzed stiffness during cell culture and assessed the consequential
fibroblast proliferation, morphology, collagen deposition, and contraction.
Our results show that increasing stiffness coincides with vaginal
fibroblast alignment, promotes collagen deposition, and inhibits PIC
gel contraction. These findings suggest that the matrix stiffness
directly influences vaginal fibroblast functionality. Moreover, we
observed a buildup in stiffness and collagen, with an enhanced fibroblast
and collagen organization on the PIC-substrate, which indicate an
enhanced structural integrity of the hydrogel-cell construct. An improved
tissue structure during healing is relevant in the functional repair
of POP. Therefore, this study encourages future research in the use
of PIC gels as a supplement in prolapse surgery, whereby the hydrogel
stiffness should be considered