The potential use of platelet-rich plasma to reconstruct the microtia chondrocyte in human auricular cartilage regeneration

Microtia is characterized as an incomplete auricular development and surgical reconstruction for microtia is still limited even with emerging developments. This study aimed to apply bionanomaterials (PRP/collagen scaffold) for human auricular neocartilage reconstruction by using microtia chondrocytes. The results showed that PRP (TGF-β1 750 pg/mL and 1 ng/mL) increased cell viability of microtia chondrocytes during in vitro 9-day cultures. Additionally, chondrogenic-specific mRNA of Aggrecan and type II collagen (Col II) was significantly and continuously expressed with PRP treatment during the 21-day in vitro expansion. Tissue engineering of auricular neocartilage was performed by seeding microtia chondrocytes in bionanomaterials (PRP/collagen scaffold) 3-dimensional (3D) cultures. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of Col II showed intensive signals between cells and matrix after 4-week cultures. Conclusion. Our results demonstrated that PRP promotes proliferation and redifferentiation of microtia chondrocytes and provides regenerative potentials in auricular neocartilage reconstruction.