Evaluation of Bi-layer Silk Fibroin Grafts for Inlay Vaginoplasty in a Rat Model.

Background: Autologous tissues derived from bowel, buccal mucosa and skin are primarily used to repair or replace diseased vaginal segments as well as create neovaginas for male-to-female transgenders. These grafts are often limited by scarce tissue supply, donor site morbidity and post-operative complications. Bi-layer silk fibroin (BLSF) biomaterials represent potential alternatives for vaginoplasty given their structural strength and elasticity, low immunogenicity, and processing flexibility.

Development of male and female models of long urethral strictures in swine.

Background: Preclinical animal models which mimic the dimensions of long urethral strictures (>2 cm in length) encountered in the clinic are necessary to evaluate prospective graft designs for urethroplasty. The purpose of this study was to develop both male and female porcine models of long urethral strictures (∼4 cm in length) and characterize histological and functional outcomes of iatrogenic stricture formation between genders.

Methods: Focal, partial thickness urethral injuries were created over 5-6 cm long segments in male and female swine ( = 4 per gender) via electrocoagulation and the degree of stricture formation was monitored for up to 6 weeks by urethroscopy and retrograde urethrography.