In vitro tissue engineering to generate a human-sized auricle and nasal tip.
OBJECTIVE
Tissue engineering has successfully generated cartilage in a xenograft and an autograft model. However, challenges remain with both of these in vivo techniques before clinical application can be realized. We hypothesized that a human-sized cartilaginous structure could be generated completely in vitro as a complementary or an alternative technique.


METHODS
Scaffolds were created in the shape of five full-sized human auricles and five nasal tip cartilaginous skeletons. Bovine shoulder chondrocytes at a concentration of 50 million cells/mL were seeded onto the scaffolds and were grown for 12 weeks in vitro. Two of the auricular scaffolds had internal support provided by soft acrylic sheets and were later implanted into nude rats.


RESULTS
All of the scaffolds maintained shape and size through 12 weeks of in vitro culture. On gross examination the scaffolds were progressively replaced by cartilage, which was confirmed by histological and biochemical analysis. The auricular scaffolds with the acrylic internal support had the most natural rigidity, which was observed by gentle palpation. The nasal scaffolds maintained excellent definition even without internal support.


CONCLUSIONS
An adult human-sized auricle and nasal tip cartilaginous structure can be grown entirely in vitro using principles of tissue engineering.
Kamil
Syed H
SH
Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114, USA.
Kojima
Koji
K
Vacanti
Martin P
MP
Bonassar
Lawrence J
LJ
Vacanti
Charles A
CA
Eavey
Roland D
RD
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D003470:Culture Media; D004425:Ear Cartilage; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003470:Culture Media