Cartilage Tissue Engineering for Auricular Reconstruction

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.