Tissue Engineering and the Future of Facial Volumization.

Volume loss due to facial aging can be restored by facial volumization using a variety of materials. Volumization can be performed in isolation or concurrent with other facial rejuvenation procedures to obtain an optimal aesthetic result. There is a myriad of manufactured products available for volumization.

Effect of hyaluronidase on tissue-engineered human septal cartilage.

Objectives: Structural properties of tissue-engineered cartilage can be optimized by altering its collagen to sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) ratio with hyaluronidase. The objective was to determine if treatment of neocartilage constructs with hyaluronidase leads to increased collagen:sGAG ratios, as seen in native tissue, and improved tensile properties.

Study Design: Prospective, basic science.

Effect of oxygen tension on tissue-engineered human nasal septal chondrocytes.

Tissue-engineered nasal septal cartilage may provide a source of autologous tissue for repair of craniofacial defects. Although advances have been made in manipulating the chondrocyte culture environment for production of neocartilage, consensus on the best oxygen tension for in vitro growth of tissue-engineered cartilage has not been reached. The objective of this study was to determine whether in vitro oxygen tension influences chondrocyte expansion and redifferentiation.

Volume Expansion of Tissue Engineered Human Nasal Septal Cartilage.

Importance: Cartilaginous craniofacial defects range in size and autologous cartilaginous tissue is preferred for repair of these defects. Therefore, it is important to have the ability to produce large size cartilaginous constructs for repair of cartilaginous abnormalities.

Objectives: To produce autologous human septal neocartilage constructs substantially larger in size than previously produced constructsTo demonstrate that volume expanded neocartilage constructs possess comparable histological and biochemical properties to standard size constructsTo show that volume expanded neocartilage constructs retain similar biomechanical properties to standard size constructs.

Evaluation of Autogenous Engineered Septal Cartilage Grafts in Rabbits- A Minimally Invasive Preclinical Model.

Objectives: Evaluate safety of autogenous engineered septal neocartilage grafts.Compare properties of implanted grafts versus controls.

Study Design: Prospective, basic science.

Tissue-engineered cartilage for facial plastic surgery.

Purpose Of Review: The reconstruction of cartilaginous craniofacial defects is ideally performed with analogous grafting material, such as autologous tissue. However, the use of autologous cartilage is limited by its finite availability and potentially suboptimal geometry to repair specific defects. Tissue engineering of human cartilage may provide the adequate supply of grafting and implant material for the reconstruction of cartilaginous facial defects.

Shape fidelity of native and engineered human nasal septal cartilage.

Objective: To test engineered and native septal cartilage for resistance to deformation and remodeling under sustained bending loads and to determine the effect of bending loads on the biochemical properties of constructs.

Study Design: Prospective, basic science.

Setting: Laboratory.

Flexural properties of native and tissue-engineered human septal cartilage.

Objective: To determine and compare the bending moduli of native and engineered human septal cartilage.

Study Design: Prospective, basic science.

Setting: Research laboratory.

Scar revision techniques-pearls and pitfalls.

Although scars are a normal part of the healing process, facial scars have significant implications on a patient's well-being, both physically and psychologically. Facial scars are one of the most common reasons a patient presents to the facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. The ability to evaluate facial scars and choose the most appropriate technique for revision is of paramount importance to obtain the best result.

In vivo oxygen tension in human septal cartilage increases with age.

Objectives/hypothesis: Tissue-engineered septal cartilage may provide a source of autologous cartilage for repair of nasal defects. Production of clinically useful neocartilage involves multiple steps that include manipulating the culture environment. Partial pressure of oxygen (ppO(2) ) is a property that has been shown to influence cartilage development.

Culture of human septal chondrocytes in a rotary bioreactor.

Objectives: (1) To show that extracellular matrix deposition in 3-dimensional culture of human septal chondrocytes cultured in a rotary bioreactor is comparable to the deposition achieved under static culture conditions. (2) To demonstrate that the biomechanical properties of human septal chondrocytes cultured in a bioreactor are enhanced with time and are analogous to beads cultured under static culture.

Study Design: Prospective, basic science.

In vivo implantation of tissue-engineered human nasal septal neocartilage constructs: a pilot study.

Objective: To determine the in vivo biocompatibility of septal neocartilage constructs developed in vitro by an alginate intermediate step.

Study Design: Prospective, animal model.

Setting: Research laboratory.