INTRODUCTION
The creation of synthetic reservoirs for bladder replacement has been limited by challenges of interfacing synthetic materials and native tissue. We sought to overcome this challenge by utilizing a novel bilayer silk fibroin scaffold (BLFS) as an intermediary towards the development of an acellular prosthetic reservoir.
METHODS
Under institutionally-approved protocols, 3D-printed reservoirs were implanted in six juvenile female pigs after cystectomy. BLFS was attached to the in-situ prosthetic reservoir serving as an intermediary to native ureteral and urethral tissue anastomoses. Our first protocol allowed four pigs to be survived up to seven days, and the second protocol allowed two pigs to be survived for up to one year. At the first sign of functional decline or the end of the study period, the animals were euthanized, and kidneys, ureters, prosthetic bladder, and urethra were harvested en-bloc for histopathology.
RESULTS
The first two pigs had anastomotic urine leaks due to design flaws resulting in early termination. The third pig had acute renal failure resulting in early termination. The artificial bladder design was modified in subsequent iterations. The fourth pig survived for seven days and upon autopsy, had intact urethral and ureteral anastomoses. The fifth and sixth pigs survived for 11 and 12 weeks, respectively, before they were sacrificed due to failure to thrive. One animal developed an enteric fistula. The other animal had an intact anastomosis, and the BLFS was identified at the ureteral and urethral anastomoses on histopathogic analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
Replacing the porcine bladder with a prosthetic bladder was successfully achieved for up to three months, the second longest survival period for a nonbiological bladder alternative. Bilayer silk fibroin scaffold was used for the first time to create an interface between synthetic material and biologic tissue by allowing ingrowth of urothelium onto the acellular alloplastic bladder.
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