Rat ear cartilage was studied using Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy to expand the current knowledge which has been established for relatively more complex cartilage types. Comparison of the FT-IR spectra of the ear cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) with published data on articular cartilage, collagen II and 4-chondroitin-sulfate standards, as well as of collagen type I-c...

Introduction. Microtia presents a congenital ear deformity ranging from minor and barely visible defect to complete absence of the ear. Currently, there are three options for reconstruction: autologous costal cartilage, silicon prothesis prosthetic Ear reconstruction with cartilage is usually performed in two stages. During first stage cartilaginous framework fabricated placed under skin, anato...

BACKGROUND Asians with short nose lack the cartilage needed to extend the length of the nose. A rhinoplasty technique using lower lateral cartilage (LLC) repositioning and ear cartilage grafting allows for sufficient nasal lengthening and nasal tip mobility in the correction of short nose in Asians. METHODS Short nose was classified into 3 subtypes: type I, II, or III. During LLC repositionin...

Background In the human ear and nose, cartilage plays a key role in establishing its form and function. Interestingly, there is a noticeable paucity on biochemical, structural, and mechanical studies focused on facial cartilage. Such studies are needed to provide elementary knowledge that is fundamental to tissue engineering of cartilage. Therefore, in this study, a comparison is made of the bi...

Due to the lack of appropriate scaffolds, the in vitro engineering of cartilage tissue with a sophisticated structure, such as a human ear, remains a great challenge. Although polyglycolic acid (PGA) has become one of the most successful scaffolds for cartilage regeneration, how to overcome its limitations in achieving desirable mechanical strength and accurate control over shape remains an uns...

Introduction: The auricular cartilage of the outer ear is composed of chondrocytes embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM) predominated by collagen (type II), elastin, and various glycosaminoglycan macromolecules. Tissue engineered cartilage for outer ear reconstruction has been a pursuit for more than two decades. The major hurdle has been the deterioration of any molded shape as the develop...

The degree of deformity depends on the promptness and efficacy of treatment. Deformities will vary from small contour irregularities in the helical rim to complete absence of the ear. Reconstruction should not be attempted for a minimum of 6 months after complete resolution of the infection [4,5]. Reconstruction is individualized for the deformity and may consist of simple scar revision, cartil...

Microtia is a congenital external ear malformation that can seriously influence the psychological and physiological well-being of affected children. The successful regeneration of human ear-shaped cartilage using a tissue engineering approach in a nude mouse represents a promising approach for auricular reconstruction. However, owing to technical issues in cell source, shape control, mechanical...