VEGF-incorporated PVDF/collagen nanofibrous scaffold for bladder wall regeneration and angiogenesis

Abstract

A common problem encountered with tissue-engineering constructs is the lack of adequate angiogenesis in newly produced tissue. We compared biocompatibility and expression level of apoptotic and angiogenesis-related gene markers in the primary bladder smooth muscle cells (HBdSMC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) when grown on the intact and VEGF-loaded scaffolds that were made of polyvinylidene fluoride and collagen. It was found an increased protein adsorption, cell attachment, and viability in VEGF-loaded scaffold compared to the intact scaffold. In addition, apoptotic and angiogenesis-related genes downregulation and upregulation were also detected in HBdSMC and HUVEC while grown on the VEGF-loaded scaffold, respectively.