Experimental study of tissue-engineered urethra with collagen / chitosan composite as scaffolds

Abstract In this article we investigated the preparation of tissue-engineered urethra by using the urethral epithelial subculture cells of male New Zealand young rabbits. We inoculated the epithelial cells of urinary mucosa of male New Zealand young rabbits on collagen, chitosan and collagen chitosan composite as scaffolds to prepare tissue-engineered urethra. The results of inverted phase contrast microscope, HE staining and scanning electron microscope of three kinds of tissue-engineered urethra were compared. What’s more, we reported a new method for quantitative and rapid detection of epithelial cell activity of urinary mucosa in situ by Interactive Laser Cytometer. The collagen chitosan composite was more similar to the extracellular matrix of mammalian. Its three-dimensional porous structure had a high area volume ratio, which was conducive to cell adhesion, growth and metabolism. In vitro, the urethral epithelial cells had been cultured on collagen chitosan composite, and the tissue-engineered urethra was successfully prepared, which laid a solid foundation for further in vivo experiments.