title: A Biodesigned Nanocomposite Biomaterial for Auricular Cartilage Reconstruction.
abstract: Current biomaterials for auricular replacement are associated with high rates of infection and extrusion. The development of new auricular biomaterials that mimic the mechanical properties of native tissue and promote desirable cellular interactions may prevent implant failure. A porous 3D nanocomposite scaffold (NS) based on POSS-PCU (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocage into polycarbonate based urea-urethane) is developed with an elastic modulus similar to native ear. In vitro biological interactions on this NS reveal greater protein adsorption, increased fibroblast adhesion, proliferation, and collagen production compared with Medpor (the current synthetic auricular implant). In vivo, the POSS-PCU with larger pores (NS2; 150-250 μm) have greater tissue ingrowth (≈5.8× and ≈1.4 × increase) than the POSS-PCU with smaller pores (NS1; 100-50 μm) and when compared to Medpor (>100 μm). The NS2 with the larger pores demonstrates a reduced fibrotic encapsulation compared with NS1 and Medpor (≈4.1× and ≈1.6×, respectively; P < 0.05). Porosity also influences the amount of neovascularization within the implants, with no blood vessel observed in NS1 (12 weeks postimplantation). The lack of chronic inflammatory response for all materials may indicate that the elastic modulus and pore size of the implant scaffold could be important design considerations for influencing fibrotic responses to auricular and other soft tissue implants.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nayyer
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jell
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.|Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust Hospital, London, NW3 2QG, UK.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaeili
authors.affiliation: The Ear Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birchall
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.|Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust Hospital, London, NW3 2QG, UK.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Seifalian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects*; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C084562:Medpor; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011108:Polymers; D011140:Polyurethanes; C005506:polycarbonate; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Medpor; POSS-PCU; auricular cartilage; biomaterial; nanocomposite scaffold