A scoping review on the potential of three-dimensional bioprinting in auricular cartilage regeneration

Abstract

Background The human ear significantly influences facial appearance. Auricular abnormalities can arise from many causes, and the cartilage cannot self-regenerate. Three-dimensional (3D) printing and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology are used to create auricular prostheses through various methods to mirror the healthy ear. Despite advancements, challenges such as natural skin tones and growth accommodation persist. Bioprinting, using “Bioink” for precise cell placement, offers promising improvements for cartilage replacement and personalized auricular tissue regeneration. Aim This review discussed recent and groundbreaking research in regenerative medicine for the auricular cartilage. The clinical studies of 3D bioprinting are the main topic of this review. This review aimed to clarify the transition from 3D printing of auricular prostheses to 3D bioprinting of patient-specific auricular tissues. Methods The literature underwent a scoping review, making use of the keywords “Bioink, maxillofacial prosthetics, patient need, maxillofacial, additive manufacturing, auricular prosthesis, 3D bioprinting AND auricle, 3D bioprinting, auricle, cartilage, and Clinical applications of 3D bioprinting of auricle in children’s patients. Researchers searched the Cochrane, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases. Studies using cell-laden, 3D bioprinted constructs, Bioink containing living cells, or interventions to regenerate cartilage or auricle tissue, as well as the use of tissue-engineered 3D bioprinting in the maxillofacial regions, primarily in children, were included. Full texts, abstracts, and titles were all previewed. Significant groundbreaking studies were included after reference searching. The search timeline was between 2018 and 2022. Results A total of 242 papers were assessed for title and abstract, with 13 judged appropriate for inclusion. Ninety-nine articles were removed, primarily because they were off-topic (unrelated) or not in English. A total of 13 publications were considered for study. Conclusions Recent research has shown the potential of 3D bioprinting for tissue regeneration in both in vitro and in animal models. Human studies that have implanted 3D bioprinted auricles are still in their initial stages; however, the results are promising.

Keywords

• auricle
• bioink
• cartilage
• three-dimensional bioprinting
• three-dimensional printing