Electrospun Fibrinogen-Polydioxanone Composite Matrix: Potential for in Situ Urologic Tissue Engineering

Our objective is to demonstrate an electrospun fibrinogen-PDO (polydioxanone) composite scaffold will retain the superior cellular interaction of fibrinogen while producing a product with the functional strength needed for direct implantation. Fibrinogen-PDO composite scaffolds were electrospun with PDO ratios of 0% (pure fibrinogen), 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 100% (pure PDO) and disinfected using standard methods. Scaffolds were seeded with human BSM (bladder smooth muscle cells) and incubated with twice weekly media changes. Samples were removed at 7, 14 and 21 days for evaluation by collagen assay, scanning electron microscopy and histology. Cell seeding and culture demonstrated human BSM readily migrate throughout and remodel electrospun fibrinogen-PDO composite scaffolds with deposition of native collagen. Cell migration and collagen deposition increased with increasing fibrinogen concentration while scaffold integrity increased with increasing PDO concentration. Electrospun fibrinogen-PDO composite structures promote rapid cellular in-growth by human BSM while maintaining structural integrity. The fibrinogen to PDO ratio can be adjusted to achieve the desired properties required for a specific tissue engineering application. Our ultimate objective is to utilize this innovative biomaterial technology to produce an acellular, bioresorbable product that enables in situ tissue regeneration. While there is still much work to be done, these initial findings indicate fibrinogen-PDO composite scaffolds deserve further investigation.