Application of Tissue Engineering Construct Seeded with Buccal Epithelium Cells for Replacement Urethroplasty

The treatment of urethral strictures remains a challenging in urology. The main approach to treatment of these pathologies is the surgical method. Currently, substitution urethroplasty employing various replacement tissues is commonly performed to deal with urethral strictures. An autologous buccal mucosa-free skin graft represents the most widely used source for the surgical procedure, causing minimal discomfort and acceptable postoperative morbidity. In this study, a tissue-engineered construct (TEC) based on a two-layer polymer scaffold seeded with buccal epithelial cells was developed. Urethrography data and histological analysis demonstrated the repair of damaged rabbit urethra. A synthetic bilayer scaffold seeded with buccal epithelial cells revealed the significant potential for substitution urethroplasty with a reconstruction potential comparable to the conventional autologous buccal flap.