Tissue Eng Regen Med.  2024 Jan;21(1):81-96. 10.1007/s13770-023-00603-3.

Ascorbic Acid 2-Phosphate Releasing Supercritically Foamed Porous Poly-L-Lactide-Co-e-Caprolactone Scaffold Enhances the Collagen Production of Human Vaginal Stromal Cells: A New Approach for Vaginal Tissue Engineering

• Sartoneva R
• Paakinaho K
• Hannula M
• Kuismanen K
• Huhtala H
• Hyttinen J
• Miettinen S

• KMID: 2550733
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-023-00603-3

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The reconstructive surgery of vaginal defects is highly demanding and susceptible to complications, especially in larger defects requiring nonvaginal tissue grafts. Thus, tissue engineering-based solutions could provide a potential approach to the reconstruction of vaginal defects.
METHODS
Here, we evaluated a novel porous ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (A2P)-releasing supercritical carbon dioxide foamed poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (scPLCL_A2P ) scaffold for vaginal reconstruction with vaginal epithelial (EC) and stromal (SC) cells. The viability, proliferation, and phenotype of ECs and SCs were evaluated in monocultures and in cocultures on d 1, d 7 and d 14. Furthermore, the collagen production of SCs on scPLCL_A2P was compared to that on scPLCL without A2P on d 14.
RESULTS
Both ECs and SCs maintained their viability on the scPLCL_A2P scaffold in mono- and coculture conditions, and the cells maintained their typical morphology during the 14-d culture period. Most importantly, the scPLCL_A2P scaffolds supported the collagen production of SCs superior to plain scPLCL based on total collagen amount, collagen I and III gene expression results and collagen immunostaining results.
CONCLUSION
This is the first study evaluating the effect of A2P on vaginal tissue engineering, and the results are highly encouraging, indicating that scPLCL_A2P has potential as a scaffold for vaginal tissue engineering.

Keyword

Poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone; Porous scaffold; Ascorbic acid 2-phosphate; Vaginal tissue engineering; Vaginal epithelial cell; Vaginal stromal cell