Towards biofabrication of a viable modular auricular cartilage implant using a polymer fiber-reinforced hydrogel

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Event Abstract Back to Event Towards biofabrication of a viable modular auricular cartilage implant using a polymer fiber-reinforced hydrogel Iris Otto1, 2, Pedro Ferreira Da Costa1, 3, Corstiaan C. Breugem2, Moshe Kon2 and Jos Malda1, 4 1 University Medical Center Utrecht, Orthopaedics, Netherlands 2 University Medical Center Utrecht, Plastic, Reconstructive & Hand Surgery, Netherlands 3 University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht Biofabrication Facility, Netherlands 4 Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Utrecht University, Equine Sciences, Netherlands Introduction: The past two decades have seen increased interest in the use of tissue engineering approaches towards the treatment of auricular deformations. These approaches utilize a combination of cells, bioactive cues, and supporting (bio)materials. Although neocartilage tissue production can be attained, engineering the human auricle keeps facing a number of challenges. These challenges include preserving cellular viability and the complex auricular shape after implantation under the tight skin envelope. Two factors play a role here: soft hydrogels in support of chondrocytes, and nutrient limitation in large non-vascularized constructs. The inferior mechanical properties of the resulting constructs lead to deformation and degradation, demonstrating the need for an adequate nutrient supply, as well as mechanical reinforcement. Biofabrication approaches have the potential to satisfy these requirements. Especially 3D-bioprinting has the ability to combine and deposit multiple materials into intricate architectures. In this study, we propose a novel approach to allow sufficient nutrient diffusion in large constructs by means of modular constructs. Furthermore, we created hybrid constructs for increased mechanical strength by combining gelatin methacrylate (gelMA) bioink with biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) fiber-reinforcement. Materials and Methods: Porcine articular and auricular chondrocytes were embedded in 10% gelMA hydrogels (6mm diameter) and cultured in vitro for 2 weeks before subcutaneous implantation in nude mice. Regenerative performance of these implants was evaluated after 6 and 12 weeks in vivo by means of histological and biochemical analysis. In addition, 3D-printed reinforcing PCL-fiber scaffolds were included within the cell-laden hydrogel constructs. This way, hybrid bio-constructs are generated in the shape of the human auricle, for which histological and biochemical evaluation is performed after in vitro maturation. Results and Discussion: In line with previous findings, articular chondrocytes adequately produced extracellular matrix [1],[2]. Nevertheless, auricular chondrocytes embedded within gelMA showed even more prominent neocartilage production as was visualized by proteoglycan and collagen stainings, and a significantly higher GAG/DNA ratio. Strong yet flexible modular PCL scaffolds could reproducibly be fabricated in the complex 3D shape of the auricle with the bioprinter. Hybrid constructs with considerable mechanical properties and with convincing structure and shape were successfully created. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that auricular chondrocytes in gelMA outperform articular chondrocytes. In addition, biofabrication of complex 3D modular auricular shapes was feasible, resulting in flexible yet strong scaffold for the reinforcement of cell-laden hydrogels. This combinatory approach holds promise for tissue engineering of auricular cartilage implants. References:[1] Levett PA, Melchels FPW, Schrobback K, Hutmacher DW, Malda J, Klein TJ. Chondrocyte redifferentiation and construct mechanical property development in single-component photocrosslinkable hydrogels. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2014;102(8):2544-2553.[2] Visser J, Gawlitta D, Benders KEM, et al. Endochondral bone formation in gelatin methacrylamide hydrogel with embedded cartilage-derived matrix particles. Biomaterials. 2014;37:174-182. Keywords: Hydrogel, Tissue Engineering, Bioprinting, 3D scaffold Conference: 10th World Biomaterials Congress, Montréal, Canada, 17 May - 22 May, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Biomaterials in constructing tissue substitutes Citation: Otto I, Ferreira Da Costa P, Breugem CC, Kon M and Malda J (2016). Towards biofabrication of a viable modular auricular cartilage implant using a polymer fiber-reinforced hydrogel. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. Conference Abstract: 10th World Biomaterials Congress. doi: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.02645 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 27 Mar 2016; Published Online: 30 Mar 2016. Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Iris Otto Pedro Ferreira Da Costa Corstiaan C Breugem Moshe Kon Jos Malda Google Iris Otto Pedro Ferreira Da Costa Corstiaan C Breugem Moshe Kon Jos Malda Google Scholar Iris Otto Pedro Ferreira Da Costa Corstiaan C Breugem Moshe Kon Jos Malda PubMed Iris Otto Pedro Ferreira Da Costa Corstiaan C Breugem Moshe Kon Jos Malda Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.