Tissue Engineered Human Ear Pinna Derived from Decellularized Goat Ear
Cartilage: Clinically Useful and Biocompatible auricle construct
Abstract
Surgery of the entire ear pinna even today presents a challenge to
reconstructive surgeons, in the absence of a universally acceptable,
quality construct for clinical use. In this article, the authors present
a technique to generate a flexible, human-size ear with the aim to meet
this limitation for ear reconstructive surgeries. The construct was
engineered by using a decellularized goat ear cartilage. This was
characterized by hematoxylin-eosin (H/E), diamidino-2-phenylindole
(DAPI), Masson’s trichrome (MT), Alcian Blue (AB) staining and Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM) for extracellular matrix (ECM) analysis. The
decellularization protocol followed yielded complete removal of all
cellular components without changing the properties of the ECM. In vivo
biocompatibility of the ear, pinna showed demonstrable
recellularization. Recellularization was tracked using HE, DAPI, MT, AB
staining, toluidine staining, SEM, vascular-associated protein (VAP),
and CD90+ expressing cells. VAP expression revealed specific
vasculogenic pattern (angiogenesis). CD90+ expression reflected the
presence of the stromal cell. The graft maintained the properties of ECM
and displayed chondrocyte recruitment. In summary, the decellularized
goat ear pinna (cartilage) exhibited xenograft biocompatibility, stable
mechanical properties, and in vivo chondrocyte recruitment. Subsequently
developed tissue-engineered ear pinna offer potential for cartilage
flexibility and individualization of ear shape and size for clinical
application.