Tissue Engineering and Ureter Regeneration: Is it Possible?

Abstract

Large ureter damages are difficult to reconstruct. Current techniques are complicated, difficult to perform, and often associated with failures. The ureter has never been regenerated thus far. Therefore the use of tissue engineering techniques for ureter reconstruction and regeneration seems to be a promising way to resolve these problems. For proper ureter regeneration the following problems must be considered: the physiological aspects of the tissue, the type and shape of the scaffold, the type of cells, and the specific environment (urine). This review presents tissue engineering achievements in the field of ureter regeneration focusing on the scaffold, the cells, and ureter healing.

Reconstructive urology and tissue engineering: Converging developmental paths

“…Advances in ureteral replacement are technically hampered by demanding animal models requiring microsurgery. Different natural biomaterials, such as SIS, decellularised ureter, vessels, or synthetic ones, such as Gore‐Tex (polytetrafluoroethylene), were tested as scaffolds for induction of ureter regeneration (Kloskowski, Kowalczyk, Nowacki, & Drewa, ). Regardless, all these experiments failed due to complications or segment reconstruction not being significantly long enough.…”

Filling Effects, Persistence, and Safety of Dermal Fillers Formulated With Stem Cells in an Animal Model

“…The implementation of stem cells has evoked tremendous enthusiasm among clinicians. [20][21][22][23][24] In the present study, we aimed to determine the local and systemic effects and utility of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) as a component of dermal fillers in an in vivo rat model.…”

Artificial urinary conduit construction using tissue engineering methods

“…Proper scaffold is essential for urinary conduit construction. Comparison of all scaffold types were described elsewhere [13]. Synthetic polymers have promising properties because these materials can be produced de novo and different shapes, porosity and degradation time can be obtained.…”

“…Despite the fact that acellular scaffold might be the best solution, some papers indicate that scaffold pre-seeded with cells (autologous form bladder biopsy or mesenchymal stem cells from different origin) showed better smooth muscle layer regeneration compared to unseeded controls [32]. The best type of cells seems to be mesenchymal stem cells from fat tissue or bone marrow and from promising sources like amniotic fluid or hair follicles [13,33]. Use of differentiated autologous cells from bladder biopsy is limited due to the risk of cancer development in the case of bladder cancer patients, who are the main candidates for urinary conduit construction [34].…”