Cartilage Tissue Engineering for Auricular Reconstruction / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Auricular reconstruction still represents one of the greatest challenges for the ENT surgeon, due to its complex three-dimensional structure. For many years the most suitable substitute for the auricular skeleton has been the autologous costal cartilage although there are some drawbacks. Since the cartilage tissue has a limited capacity for self-renewal and self-repair, cartilage tissue engineering techniques might offer possibilities of restoring missing or damaged cartilage structures. This article reviews implant materials currently being used for auricular reconstruction and also provides a review of possible cell sources, types of scaffold materials and stimulating factors for tissue engineering of cartilage. The recent advances in surgical techniques and biotechnology may promise clinical application of tissue-engineered cartilage as an auricular skeleton in the future.