Engineering of erectile tissue: the state and future of corporal restoration

Purpose: To provide an overview of the state of tissue engineering relative to male erectile tissue and the implications for treatment of penile pathology. Methods: A PubMed review of the relevant peer-reviewed literature pertaining to engineering of penile tissues was performed. Results: There are multiple pathologies that threaten form and/or function of the penis. Management of disease rarely offers a path to true restoration. Historical efforts to correct structural defects have largely relied on synthetic materials, commercially prepared allograft or xenograft constructs, or autologous tissue substitutes. These approaches have traditionally suffered from less-than-optimal clinical outcomes and degrees of patient morbidity that may be preventable. Prior work in tissue engineering of corpora cavernosa has demonstrated the ability to produce functional tissue in small and large animal models. A human clinical trial is currently underway. Conclusions: Varied conditions pathologically affecting the penis warrant development of more sophisticated tissue-based solutions. Animal models have demonstrated efficacy in restoring functional corpora cavernosa, and upcoming clinical trials will serve to determine safety and efficacy in humans.