Characterization of a PGA-based scaffold for use in a tissue-engineered neo-urinary conduit.

A tissue-engineered product needs to be properly characterized in order to be used in vivo. Many methods can be used to characterize a scaffold during creation of a tissue-engineered product. This chapter looks at the mechanical (tensile testing) and biological characterization (cell viability and proliferation) of a polyglycolic acid-based scaffold used to tissue engineer a Neo-Urinary Conduit™. Such methods are more broadly applicable to characterization of other neo-organ product candidates.