The absence of ears in children is a global problem. An implant made of costal cartilage is the standard procedure for ear reconstruction; however, side effects such as pneumothorax, loss of thoracic cage shape, and respiratory complications have been documented. Three-dimensional (3D) printing allows the generation of biocompatible scaffolds that mimic the shape, mechanical strength, and architecture of the native extracellular matrix necessary to promote new elastic cartilage formation. We report the potential use of a 3D-bioprinted poly-ε-caprolactone (3D-PCL) auricle-shaped framework seeded with remaining human microtia chondrocytes for the development of elastic cartilage for autologous microtia ear reconstruction. An in vivo assay of the neo-tissue formed revealed the generation of a 3D pinna-shaped neo-tissue, and confirmed the formation of elastic cartilage by the presence of type II collagen and elastin with histological features and a protein composition consistent with normal elastic cartilage. According to our results, a combination of 3D-PCL auricle frameworks and autologous microtia remnant tissue generates a suitable pinna structure for autologous ear reconstruction.

儿童没有耳朵是一个全球性问题。由肋软骨制成的植入物是耳再造的标准程序；然而，已有气胸、胸廓形状丧失和呼吸系统并发症等副作用的记录。三维 (3D) 打印可以生成生物相容性支架，模拟促进新弹性软骨形成所需的天然细胞外基质的形状、机械强度和结构。我们报告了 3D 生物打印的聚 ε-己内酯 (3D-PCL) 耳廓形状框架的潜在用途，该框架接种了剩余的人小耳软骨细胞，用于发育自体小耳畸形耳朵重建的弹性软骨。对形成的新组织的体内测定揭示了 3D 耳廓形新组织的生成，并通过具有组织学特征的 II 型胶原和弹性蛋白的存在以及与正常弹性一致的蛋白质组成证实了弹性软骨的形成软骨。根据我们的结果，3D-PCL 耳廓框架和自体小耳残余组织的组合产生了适合自体耳重建的耳廓结构。