Nanostructured bladder tissue replacements

Abstract

The interaction between cells or tissues and natural or synthetic materials which mimic the natural biological environment has been a matter of great interest in tissue engineering. In particular, surface properties of biomaterials (regardless of whether they are natural or synthetic) have been optimized using nanotechnology to improve interactions with cells for regenerative medicine applications. Specifically, in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated greater bladder tissue growth on polymeric surfaces with nanoscale to submicron surface features. Improved bladder cell responses on nanostructured polymers have been correlated to unique nanomaterial surface features leading to greater surface energy which influences initial protein interactions. Moreover, coupled with the observed greater in vitro and in vivo bladder cell adhesion as well as proliferation on nanostructured compared to conventional synthetic polymers, decreased calcium stone formation has also been measured. In this article, the importance of nanostructured biomaterial surface features for bladder tissue replacements are reviewed with thoughts on future directions for this emerging field.

Whyever bladder tissue engineering clinical applications still remain unusual even though many intriguing technological advances have been reached?

“…By mimicking the nanoscale architecture of native bladder tissue, the synthetic polymer-based scaffolds with nanostructured surface make cell adhesion/growth easier than that of bladder tissue building conventional modalities, as nanoscale polymer structures showing the same nano-size of natural tissue constitutive cell proteins, especially those of the cell surface receptors, so reaching the advantage of "directly speaking the language of cells" (32)(33)(34)(35).…”

“…Different bladder tissue engineering nanotechnology approaches -including either nanomaterials to coat conventionally made scaffold surfaces or de novo electrospun nanofiber-built scaffolds -show many structural advantages, in comparison with non-nanostructured constructs, including the lower calcium oxalate stone formation (32,37).…”

Tissue Engineering in Low Urinary Tract Reconstruction

“…Furthermore, some reports showed more bladder smooth muscle cell attachment and growth on polystyrene nanofiber scaffolds fabricated, using an electrospinning technique, to possess surface features at the nanoscale. Cellular adhesive and proliferative ability of keratinocytes were also improved in the nanoscaled scaffold (26). (Table1) As well as the electrospinning technique mentioned above, another useful nanotechnique is the use of nanoparticles as a delivery system.…”

Enhancing Undergraduate Students' Learning and Research Experiences through Hands-on Experiments in Bio-nanoengineering

“…Nanotechnology is also aiding in the formation of molecular systems that are designed to be noticeably similar to living systems, which could be the basis for the regeneration of body parts that are currently lost due to infection, accident, or disease [4][5][6]. In order to fully realize the promises of nanotechnology in medicine, significant improvements in scientific and technological infrastructure are needed as well as vast improvements in the education of technicians, engineers and researchers in the field.…”

“…Nanotechnology is already moving from being used as a passive structure in applications such as cosmetics and sunscreens to active structures in applications such as pharmaceuticals (targetable "smart drugs"). These new drug therapies have been shown to cause fewer side effects and to be more effective than traditional therapies [3].Nanotechnology is also aiding in the formation of molecular systems that are designed to be noticeably similar to living systems, which could be the basis for the regeneration of body parts that are currently lost due to infection, accident, or disease [4][5][6]. In order to fully realize the promises of nanotechnology in medicine, significant improvements in scientific and technological infrastructure are needed as well as vast improvements in the education of technicians, engineers and researchers in the field.…”