Small spheroids for head and neck cartilage tissue engineering.

The demand for cartilage reconstruction in the head and neck region arises frequently due to trauma, malignancies, and hereditary diseases. Traditional tissue engineering produces cartilage from a small biopsy by combining biomaterials and expanded cells. However, this top-down approach is associated with several limitations, including the non-uniform distribution of cells, lack of physiological cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and compromised mechanical properties and tissue architecture.

Evaluation of Bioprinted Autologous Cartilage Grafts in an Immunocompetent Rabbit Model.

The gold standard of auricular reconstruction involves manual graft assembly from autologous costal cartilage. The intervention may require multiple surgical procedures and lead to donor-site morbidity, while the outcome is highly dependent on individual surgical skills. A tissue engineering approach provides the means to produce cartilage grafts of a defined shape from autologous chondrocytes.

Suitability of Ex Vivo-Expanded Microtic Perichondrocytes for Auricular Reconstruction.

Tissue engineering (TE) techniques offer solutions for tissue regeneration but require large quantities of cells. For microtia patients, TE methods represent a unique opportunity for therapies with low donor-site morbidity and reliance on the surgeon's individual expertise. Microtia-derived chondrocytes and perichondrocytes are considered a valuable cell source for autologous reconstruction of the pinna.

Characterization of Distinct Chondrogenic Cell Populations of Patients Suffering from Microtia Using Single-Cell Micro-Raman Spectroscopy.

Microtia is a congenital condition of abnormal development of the outer ear. Tissue engineering of the ear is an alternative treatment option for microtia patients. However, for this approach, the identification of high regenerative cartilage progenitor cells is of vital importance.

In situ regeneration of nasal septal defects using acellular cartilage enhanced with platelet-derived growth factor.

Nasal septum defects can currently only be reconstructed using autologous cartilage grafts. In this study, we examine the reconstruction of septal cartilage defects in a rabbit model using porcine decellularized nasal septal cartilage (DNSC) functionalized with recombinant platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDFG-BB). The supportive function of the transplanted DNSC was estimated by the degree of septum deviation and shrinkage using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

3D cell culture alters signal transduction and drug response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) upregulation is a typical characteristic of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, tyrosine kinase inhibitors have not yet been able to achieve enough therapeutic benefit in clinical trials to justify their use in standard therapy regimens. At present, little is known about the reasons for this treatment failure.

Modulation of the inflammatory response to decellularized collagen matrix for cartilage regeneration.

Decellularized extracellular matrices (DECM) are among the most common types of materials used in tissue engineering due to their cell instructive properties, biodegradability, and accessibility. Particularly in cartilage, a natural collagen type II matrix can be a promising means to provide the necessary cues and support for chondrogenic stem and progenitor cells (CSPCs). However, efficient remodeling of the transplanted DECM is largely dependent on the host immune response, with macrophages playing the central role in orchestrating both inflammatory and regenerative processes.

Regenerative Potential of Perichondrium: A Tissue Engineering Perspective.

The clinical relevance of perichondrium was recognized more than a century ago. In children and adolescents, perichondrium is essential for the formation and growth of the cartilaginous part of craniofacial features and must be considered during reconstructive surgery in the head and neck area. Also in adults, perichondrium must be preserved during surgical intervention for adequate postoperative healing and cartilage maintenance.