Combining bioengineered human skin with bioprinted cartilage for ear reconstruction

Abstract

Microtia is a congenital disorder that manifests as a malformation of the external ear leading to psychosocial problems in affected children. Here, we present a tissue-engineered treatment approach based on a bioprinted autologous auricular cartilage construct (EarCartilage) combined with a bioengineered human pigmented and prevascularized dermo-epidermal skin substitute (EarSkin) tested in immunocompromised rats. We confirmed that human-engineered blood capillaries of EarSkin connected to the recipient’s vasculature within 1 week, enabling rapid blood perfusion and epidermal maturation. Bioengineered EarSkin displayed a stratified epidermis containing mature keratinocytes and melanocytes. The latter resided within the basal layer of the epidermis and efficiently restored the skin color. Further, in vivo tests demonstrated favorable mechanical stability of EarCartilage along with enhanced extracellular matrix deposition. In conclusion, EarCartilage combined with EarSkin represents a novel approach for the treatment of microtia with the potential to circumvent existing limitations and improve the aesthetic outcome of microtia reconstruction.

Naturally Occuring or Derived Photoinitiators for Medical Applications

“…Regenerative medicines rely significantly on scaffolds that facilitate the treatment of damaged tissue. [44] The advent of 3D printing technology has enabled the fabrication of complex structures crucial for regenerative medicines, [45,46] including 3D printed organ-on-a-chip and customizable artificial organs. [47][48][49][50][51] Photopolymerized scaffolds, among 3D printed materials, play a pivotal role in supporting cell proliferation.…”