Urinary Bladder Patch Made with Decellularized Vein Scaffold Seeded with Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Model in Rabbits

Bacterial cellulose-based scaffold modified with anti-CD29 antibody to selectively capture urine-derived stem cells for bladder repair

Acellular cellulose-based biomaterials hold promising potential for treating bladder injuries. However, the compromised cellular state surrounding the wound impedes the complete reconstruction of the bladder. This necessitates the development of a bio-instructive cellulose-based biomaterial that actively controls cell behavior to facilitate effective bladder regeneration. To develop such an advanced cell-free scaffold, a bacterial cellulose (BC) substrate is elaborately modified through layer-by-layer assembly of heparin and collagen (H/C), followed by glutaraldehyde crosslinking, resulting in a biomimetic nanofibrous scaffold with optimized mechanical properties and reduced salt crystal deposition. Critically, the scaffold is functionalized with anti-CD29 antibodies, enabling selective in situ capture of urine-derived stem cells (USCs) without compromising their viability. The (H/C)-modified BC scaffold exhibits exceptional swelling and extracellular matrix-like architecture, which mirrors the natural bladder environment. Fluorescent immunostaining confirms uniform antibody grafting, confirming the efficacy of this modified biomaterial in attracting and retaining USCs. Overall, this study introduces a BC-based scaffold that has been innovatively modified with CD29, enabling the selective capture of USCs from urine. This innovative acellular biomaterial represents a promising acellular strategy to address the challenges posed by compromised cellular conditions during bladder reconstruction, offering a novel avenue for regenerative bladder therapies.

Stem cell therapy for bladder regeneration: A comprehensive systematic review

Tissue engineering has been considered a potential choice for urinary system reconstruction. Here, we aim to a broad spectrum of employed stem cells in bladder regeneration by performing a comprehensive systematic review. In January 2024, we searched Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases for studies that tried bladder regeneration by tissue engineering using stem cells. We excluded non-English studies, review articles, and manuscripts that met the other exclusion criteria. Among 43 included studies, comparative studies demonstrated the similar or superior potentiality of stem cells to regenerate tissues and improve bladder function compared with autologous cells. Furthermore, data suggest an increased use of bio-synthetic scaffolds and their appropriate bio-compatibility with stem cells. The evidence establishes that adipose-derived and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells are the most frequently used stem cells. And both are suitable for urothelium and smooth muscle formation along with the capability of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for lamina propria formation. Additionally, the competency of smooth muscle-derived progenitor cells, urine-derived stem cells, umbilical mesenchymal SCs for smooth muscle and urothelium regeneration, and the capability of hair follicle stem cells for smooth muscle formation are demonstrated. Also, the superiority of endothelial progenitor cells for neo-vascularization and smooth muscle progenitor cells for neuron formation are demonstrated. In addition to adding growth factors to the culturing media, hypoxic conditions and intra-peritoneal incubation are introduced as promoter conditions that can improve histological and physiological components. Available evidence is limited, although it suggests the precious capability of stem cells for bladder regeneration.

Biomedical Application of Decellularized Scaffolds

Tissue loss and end-stage organ failure are serious health problems across the world. Natural and synthetic polymer scaffold material based artificial organs play an important role in the field of tissue engineering and organ regeneration, but they are not from the body and may cause side effects such as rejection. In recent years, the biomimetic decellularized scaffold based materials have drawn great attention in the tissue engineering field for their good biocompatibility, easy modification, and excellent organism adaptability. Therefore, in this review, we comprehensively summarize the application of decellularized scaffolds in tissue engineering and biomedicine in recent years. The preparation methods, modification strategies, construction of artificial tissues, and application in biomedical applications are discussed. We hope that this review will provide a useful reference for research on decellularized scaffolds and promote their application tissue engineering.