Fig 1.
Representative optical images of (A) Nanofiber-covered, self-expandable metallic stent and (B) scanning electron micrographs of EW-7197 loaded nanofibers. The scale bars are 30 μm and 10 μm.
Fig 2.
Locations of tissue sampled for histological examination.
The canine urethra consists of the proximal pelvic urethra (arrows) and the distal cavernous urethra (arrowheads). (A) Retrograde urethrography of the canine urethra immediately after stent placement. (B) Schematic image showing the locations of tissue samples where a stent was present.
Fig 3.
Curves show in vitro release profiles of EW-7197 from nanofiber membrane at (A) 5 days and (B) 60 days. Error bars = standard deviation of mean (n = 6).
Fig 4.
Retrograde urethrography images obtained 8 weeks after stent placement in dogs.
(A) Image obtained after control stent placement shows filling defects (arrowheads) at both ends of the stents and in-stent stenosis (arrows) resulting from granulation tissue formation. (B) Image in drug stent group shows mild in-stent restenosis (arrows) in the proximal and distal stented urethras (arrows). At both ends of the stents, no definite filling defects were seen.
Table 1.
Retrograde urethrographic findings after stent placement in canine urethra.
Fig 5.
Representative microscopic images (hematoxylin and eosin staining magnification × 2 [A,B] and Masson’s trichrome staining magnification × 5 [C,D]) of histological sections at 8 weeks after stent placement. The thickness of papillary projection (arrows) was significantly increased in the CS group (A) compared to the DS group (B). Arrowhead = stent struts (A,B). The degree of collagen deposition (arrowheads) was significantly greater in the CS group (C) than the DS group (D). The number of epithelial layers (arrows) in the CS group (C) was significantly higher than the DS group (D). CS: control stent, DS: drug stent.
Table 2.
Histological findings after stent placement in canine urethra.