Electrospun PCL/chitosan nanofibrous scaffold for human bladder smooth muscle regeneration

Objective(s): Several pathologic complications may lead to defects in urinary bladder tissue or organ loss. In this regard, bladder tissue engineering utilizing electrospun nanofibrous PCL and PCL/chitosan would be promising as replacing structures. Materials and Methods: The resultant nanofibers were characterized for their morphology, diameter and composition by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and also, FT-IR and CHN analyses. Then, isolation of smooth muscle cells of human urinary bladder biopsies was performed and the obtained cells were characterized by immunocytochemistry (ICC). Thereafter, seeded cells on PCL and PCL/CS nanofibers were assayed for their viability/toxicity, and also, cell-scaffold attachments and cell morphologies were investigated. Results: The findings illustrated that PCL and PCL/CS nanofibers of about 100 nm were successfully fabricated. The obtained scaffolds provided appropriate environment for attachment and expansion of seeded detrusor smooth muscle cells. Biocompatibility of both scaffolds was demonstrated by alamar blue assay. After 7 days of study, cells showed higher viability percentage on PCL/CS nanofibers. Conclusion: Nanofibrous PCL or PCL/CS scaffolds could properly help adhesion and proliferation/growth of human bladder smooth muscle cells (hBSMCs).