Comparing Supportive Properties of Poly Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA), PLGA/Collagen and Human Amniotic Membrane for Human Urothelial and Smooth Muscle Cells Engineering

To compare human urothelial and smooth muscle cells attachment and proliferation using three different matrices; poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), PLGA/collagen and human amniotic membrane (hAM). Human urothelial and smooth muscle cells were cultured and examined for expression of urothelium (pancytokeratin and uroplakin III) and smooth muscle cells [desmin and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)] markers. Cells were cultured on three scaffolds; PLGA, PLGA/collagen and hAM. Thereafter, they were analyzed for cell growth on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 after seeding by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Scaffolds were fixed and processed for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry against their cell specific markers after 7 and 14 days of culture. MTT assay results revealed that collagen has improved cell attachment features of PLGA and led to significant increase of MTT signal in PLGA/collagen compared to PLGA (P <. 001) and hAM (P <. 001). hAM was a weaker matrix for both cell types as demonstrated in MTT assay and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. SEM micrographs showed normal phenotype and distribution on PLGA and PLGA/collagen. In the same line, cells formed a well-developed layer either on PLGA or PLGA/collagen, which maintained expression of their corresponding markers. Our findings demonstrated significant improvement of cell attachment and growth achieved by collagen coating (PLGA/collagen) compared to PLGA and hAM. hAM despite of its natural entity was a weaker matrix for bladder engineering purposes.