Abstract

Bladder acellular matrix graft-alginate dialdehyde-gelatin hydrogel-silk mesh (BAMG-HS) encapsulated with adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) was evaluated in a rat model of augmentation cystoplasty, including BAMG-HS-ASCs (n = 18, subgroup n = 6 for 2, 4, and 12 weeks), acellular BAMG-HS (n = 6 for 12 weeks) and cystotomy control (n = 6 for 12 weeks) groups. Equipped with good cytocompatibility and superior mechanical properties (elastic modulus: 5.33 ± 0.96 MPa, maximum load: 28.90 ± 0.69 N), BAMG-HS acted a trilayer “sandwich” scaffold with minimal interference in systemic homeostasis. ASCs in BAMG-HS promoted morphological and histological bladder restoration by accelerating scaffold degradation (p < 0.05), ameliorating fibrosis (p < 0.05) and inflammation (p < 0.01). Additionally, ASCs facilitated the recovery of bladder function by enhancing smooth muscle regeneration (p < 0.05), innervation (p < 0.01) and angiogenesis (p < 0.001). Except for a small number of endothelium-differentiated ASCs, the pro-angiogenic effects of ASCs were mainly related to ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the downstream of SDF-1α/CXCR4 pathway.