Functional reconstruction of injured corpus cavernosa using 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds seeded with HIF-1α-expressing stem cells

Geng An, Feixiang Guo, Xuemin Liu, Zhifang Wang, Ye Zhu, Yong Fan, Chengkai Xuan, Yan Li, Hongkai Wu, Xuetao Shi () and Chuanbin Mao ()
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Geng An: Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
Feixiang Guo: Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
Xuemin Liu: South China University of Technology
Zhifang Wang: South China University of Technology
Ye Zhu: Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma
Yong Fan: Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
Chengkai Xuan: South China University of Technology
Yan Li: School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University
Hongkai Wu: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Xuetao Shi: Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
Chuanbin Mao: Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Injury of corpus cavernosa results in erectile dysfunction, but its treatment has been very difficult. Here we construct heparin-coated 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds seeded with hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mutated muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) to develop bioengineered vascularized corpora. HIF-1α-mutated MDSCs significantly secrete various angiogenic factors in MDSCs regardless of hypoxia or normoxia. The biodegradable scaffolds, along with MDSCs, are implanted into corpus cavernosa defects in a rabbit model to show good histocompatibility with no immunological rejection, support vascularized tissue ingrowth, and promote neovascularisation to repair the defects. Evaluation of morphology, intracavernosal pressure, elasticity and shrinkage of repaired cavernous tissue prove that the bioengineered corpora scaffolds repair the defects and recover penile erectile and ejaculation function successfully. The function recovery restores the reproductive capability of the injured male rabbits. Our work demonstrates that the 3D-printed hydrogels with angiogenic cells hold great promise for penile reconstruction to restore reproductive capability of males.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16192-x

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