Page 281 - IJB-9-6

International

Journal of Bioprinting

REVIEW ARTICLE
3D bioprinting for auricular reconstruction:

A review and future perspectives

Anna Onderková, and Deepak M. Kalaskar*
University College London, Royal Free Hospital, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in bioprinting technology)

Abstract

Congenital abnormalities or acquired trauma to the auricle can result in a need for
ear reconstruction and negatively impact a person’s quality of life. Autografting,
alloplastic implants, and prostheses are available to treat these issues, but each
requires multiple surgical stages and has limitations and complications. Three-
dimensional (3D) bioprinting promises to allow the creation of living, patient-specific
ear substitutes that could reduce operative morbidity. In this review, we evaluate
the current state of 3D bioprinting methods through a systematic search and review
of 27 studies, aiming to examine this emerging technology within the context of
existing reconstructive options. The included studies were all non-randomized
experimental studies, except for a single pilot clinical trial. Most of these studies
involved both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrating the potential of 3D
bioprinting to create functional and anatomically accurate engineered cartilaginous
frameworks for surgical implantation. Various ways of optimizing printing were
*Corresponding authors: identified, from choosing the most suitable material and cell type for the construct to
Anna Onderková addressing scaffold deformation and shrinkage issues. 3D printing has the potential
(annaonderkova@doctors.org.uk) to revolutionize reconstructive ear surgery by creating functional and aesthetically
Deepak M. Kalaskar pleasing auricles. While more research into printing parameters, bioinks, cell types,
(d.kalaskar@ucl.ac.uk)
and materials could optimize results, the next step is to conduct long-term in vivo
Citation: Onderková A, Kalaskar clinical trials in humans.
DM., 2023, 3D bioprinting for
auricular reconstruction: A review
and future perspectives. Int J
Bioprint, 9(6): 0898. Keywords: 3D bioprinting; Auricular Reconstruction; Tissue Engineering; Bioinks;
https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.0898 Patient-specific Implants; Cartilaginous Frameworks
Received: May 4, 2023
Accepted: June 20, 2023
Published Online: August 7, 2023
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). 1. Introduction
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the The external ear can be congenitally missing (anotia) or malformed (microtia) or may
Creative Commons Attribution sustain acquired damage in the form of trauma, burns, or after skin cancer excision [1,2] .
License, permitting distribution, The absence of an external ear can impact a patient’s quality of life through impaired
and reproduction in any medium, [3]
provided the original work is conductive hearing , loss of symmetry, difficulty wearing glasses or hearing aids, and
properly cited. the combined psychosocial and developmental consequences of all of these factors,
particularly in children [1,4] . The auricle has significant aesthetic value , and its absence
[5]
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with can be seriously stigmatizing in adults [3,5] . Conversely, following ear reconstruction,
regard to jurisdictional claims in 74% of adults and 91% of children report improved self-confidence and social
published maps and institutional interactions .
[6]
affiliations.

Volume 9 Issue 6 (2023) 273 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.0898