Tissue engineered neocartilage using polymer substrates and chondrocytes rrom residual ear / 中华医学美学美容杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the possibility of using poly-hydroxybutyate-hydroxyhexate p(3HB-co-3HH)), a modified extracellular matrix, the third generation of PHA family, as a scaffold for seeding of chondrocytes from the residual ear of microtia patients to generate tissue engineered cartilage in athymus mice. Methods The residual ear cartilage from eight 7-years-old microtia patients was enzymatically dissolved by collagenase, and chondrocytes were harvested and seeded into foams of PHB-PHH. After incubation for 1 week in vitro, chondrocyte-polymer constructs were implanted subcutaneously into 8 athymus mice. A control groups was established by subcutaneous implantation of PHB-PHH foams alone. One athymus mice were killed at 4 weeks postoperatively, and 6 were sacrificed at 8 weeks. The specimens were dissected and examined macroscopically and histologically. Results Specimens harvested from chondrocyte-polymer constructs subjected to gross morphologic and histology analysis demonstrated new cartilage formation, and those from control groups showed no cartilage formation. The one of 4 weeks still had some remains of the scaffold with nodules of neocartilage. After 8 weeks, all the 6 mice had neocartilage formed almost the same as natural. The PHB-PHH scaffold were totally absorbed. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that the foam of PHB-PHH is not only a good "matrix" for cartilage tissue engineering, but also optimal scaffold for the seeding of chondrocytes from the residual ear to generate new cartilage that would be useful in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Chondrocytes from the residual ear of microtia patients are good candidates for generation of tissue engineered cartilage.