Middle Ear Tissue Engineering: new challenges and opportunities for otologic surgery
Serena Danti
Otology - Cochlear Implants Unit, Dept. of Neuroscience , University of Pisa
Abstract:
At present, millions of people worldwide are suffering from chronic middle ear (ME). Depending on the extent of damages, otologic surgery remains the only option, which can be highly demolishing, leading to permanent physical and social disabilities for the patients. Nowadays, the employed replacements of ME components consist of devices based on either mere synthetic materials or autografts ablated from the surrounding tissues. However, recurrent clinical failures highlight that more action and research are necessary, and in particular, a new generation of replacements is needed aimed by an innovative multidisciplinary vision. In fact, due to the small size, middle location and specific function of ME tissues, application of tissue engineering concepts can pave the way for microsurgical reconstructive procedures with increased stability and performance that would benefit patients’ quality of life.
Since 2004, our research has been focusing on novel technology-aided regenerative therapies as an alternative to current ME replacements. Specifically, in vitro substitutes based on bone marrow stem cell/scaffold constructs were developed for ossicular chain, tympanic membrane and mastoid bone. Moreover, a biomimetic bioreactor was prototyped for in vitro culture of tympanic membrane substitutes. We believe that ME represents a suitable body location for successful tissue engineering strategies.
