Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
09:53
A Protocol for Decellularizing Mouse Cochleae for Inner Ear Tissue Engineering
Published on: January 1, 2018
11.7K
Optimizing cell sourcing for clinical translation of tissue engineered ears
Kerry A Morrison1, Benjamin P Cohen2, Ope Asanbe1
1Laboratory for Bioregenerative Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
Biofabrication
|December 6, 2016
Summary
This study shows that combining auricular chondrocytes (AuC) with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can create elastic cartilage for tissue-engineered ears using 50% fewer AuC. This innovative cell sourcing strategy advances clinical translation for auricular reconstruction.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Clinical translation of patient-specific tissue-engineered ears is hindered by limited autologous auricular chondrocyte (AuC) supply and rapid de-differentiation.
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer a promising alternative due to their chondrogenic potential and abundant availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of co-culturing AuC with MSCs for fabricating elastic cartilage.
- To determine if this co-culture strategy can reduce the required amount of AuC for auricular reconstruction.
Main Methods:
- Bovine auricular chondrocytes (bAuC) and bovine MSCs (bMSCs) were encapsulated in collagen hydrogels at varying ratios (100:0, 50:50, 0:100).
- Fabricated collagen discs were implanted subcutaneously in nude mice for 1 and 3 months.
- Analysis included gross examination, histological assessment, and biochemical evaluation of cartilage matrix deposition.
Main Results:
- Co-culture discs (50:50 bAuC:bMSC) maintained size and shape, exhibiting native auricular cartilage-like elasticity.
- Histological analysis revealed mature elastic cartilage with chondrocytes, proteoglycans, elastic fibers, and a perichondrial layer.
- Biochemical assays confirmed superior deposition of cartilage matrix components in co-culture discs compared to pure AuC or MSC discs.
Conclusions:
- A novel cell sourcing strategy using AuC/MSC co-culture successfully fabricates elastic cartilage.
- This approach utilizes 50% fewer AuC, overcoming a major hurdle for clinical translation of tissue-engineered ears.
- The findings support the use of co-culture for efficient auricular reconstruction.
