title: Biomechanical Characterisation of the Human Auricular Cartilages; Implications for Tissue Engineering.
abstract: Currently, autologous cartilage provides the gold standard for auricular reconstruction. However, synthetic biomaterials offer a number of advantages for ear reconstruction including decreased donor site morbidity and earlier surgery. Critical to implant success is the material's mechanical properties as this affects biocompatibility and extrusion. The aim of this study was to determine the biomechanical properties of human auricular cartilage. Auricular cartilage from fifteen cadavers was indented with displacement of 1 mm/s and load of 300 g to obtain a Young's modulus in compression. Histological analysis of the auricle was conducted according to glycoprotein, collagen, and elastin content. The compression modulus was calculated for each part of the auricle with the tragus at 1.67 ± 0.61 MPa, antitragus 1.79 ± 0.56 MPa, concha 2.08 ± 0.70 MPa, antihelix 1.71 ± 0.63 MPa, and helix 1.41 ± 0.67 MPa. The concha showed to have a significantly greater Young's Elastic Modulus than the helix in compression (p < 0.05). The histological analysis demonstrated that the auricle has a homogenous structure in terms of chondrocyte morphology, extracellular matrix and elastin content. This study provides new information on the compressive mechanical properties and histological analysis of the human auricular cartilage, allowing surgeons to have a better understanding of suitable replacements. This study has provided a reference, by which cartilage replacements should be developed for auricular reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Centre for Nanotechnology & Regenerative Medicine, University College London, London, UK. 12michellegriffin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Anatomical Sciences, Institute for Medical and Biomedical Education, St. George's, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Premakumar
authors.affiliation: UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Centre for Nanotechnology & Regenerative Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Seifalian
authors.affiliation: Anatomical Sciences, Institute for Medical and Biomedical Education, St. George's, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szarko
authors.affiliation: UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Centre for Nanotechnology & Regenerative Medicine, University College London, London, UK.|Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P E M
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin
keywords: Auricular; Chondrocyte; Elastic Modulus; Human cartilage; Stress–strain