Study of cartilage tissue engineering using nanoPGA / PCL composite scaffold

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18451
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56070:Plastic and reconstructive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Yamauchi Makoto 近畿大学, 医学部, 講師 (90438060)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 組織再生 / 軟骨培養 / 小耳症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Result of seeding human chondrocytes onto bioresorbable composite
scaffolds (ear-shaped PCL with surface coverage of nanoPGA)(nanoPGA/PCL), cell viability rate was significantly higher in the nanoPGA group than in the PGA group. When the surface of nanoPGA/PCL scaffolds was modified to be hydrophilic by ethanol treatment and the effect on cartilage matrix production was examined. RT-qPCR analyses of chondrocytes grown on ethanol-treated scaffolds showed significantly increased SOX5 and decreased IL-1α expression levels. In addition, both cartilage regeneration area ratio and cartilage coverage rate increased significantly. These results suggest that ethanol-treated nanoPGA/PCL scaffolds promotes chronological cartilage matrix production and is suitable as a scaffold for long-term maintenance of the shape of the auricle.

Free Research Field

形成外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

小耳症や外傷後の耳介欠損の治療は、現在、自分自身の肋軟骨を採取し、耳介フレームを作成して移植するのが一般的である。しかし、手術侵襲が大きく、手術の難易度が高い点、複数回の手術が必要となる点などが問題点として挙げられる。本件研究により、高生体親和性の耳介形状足場に、耳介軟骨を微細加工しマイクロ軟骨を播種することにより細胞培養を必要としない軟骨再生の技術開発が可能となり、低侵襲で普遍的な治療方法となりうる可能性がある。