Urinary Tissue Engineering: Challenges and Opportunities

作者：Anirudha Singh, Trinity J. Bivalacqua, Nikolai A. Sopko · 发表于：Sexual Medicine Reviews · 年份：2017 · DOI：10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.08.004 · 被引用次数：44 · 研究领域：Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine、Bladder and Urothelial Cancer Treatments、3D Printing in Biomedical Research

INTRODUCTION: In this review, we discuss major advancements and common challenges in constructing and regenerating a neo-urinary conduit (NUC). First, we focus on the need for regenerating the urothelium, the hallmark the urine barrier, unique to urinary tissues. Second, we focus on clinically feasible scaffolds based on decellularized matrices and molded collagen that are currently of great research interest. AIM: To discuss the major advancements in constructing a tissue-engineered NUC (TE-NUC) and the challenges involved in their successful clinical translation. METHODS: A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed literature from PubMed and Google Scholar on subjects related to urothelium regeneration, decellularized tissue matrices, and collagen scaffolds was conducted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We evaluated the main biological and mechanical functions of urinary tissues, the need for TE implants to create a urinary diversion, the reasons for their failures in clinical settings, and the applications of decellularized tissue matrices and collagen-based molded scaffolds in their regeneration. RESULTS: It is necessary to create a urine barrier that prevents urine leakage into the stroma that can cause failure of the graft. Despite the regeneration potential of the urothelium, the limited supply of healthy urothelial cells in patients with bladder cancer remains a major challenge. In this context, alternative strategies, such as transdifferentiation of cells into urothelium or engine...