Experimental Study Of Granule Cartilage Plus NBCA And Combining 3D Printing Technology To Create Ear Scaffold

Objective: The study made individualized ear scaffold by using granule cartilage plus n-butyl α-cyanoacrylate and combing with 3D print technology, then implanted ear scaffold into the back of New Zealand White Rabbit to observe the shape and survival condition of ear scaffold, and discuss the feasibility of granule cartilage plus n-butyl α-cyanoacrylate and combing with 3D print technology, thereby providing a certain theoretical basis for future cartilage 3D print ear scaffold.Methods: First choose randomly one patient with ear deformation treated in the department of plastic and laser aesthetic surgery of Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital from July to August, 2015, and scan normal ear to obtain patient’s auricula digital model by using 3D CT. Based on 3D print ear scaffold model, the model can be divided into male mould and female mould, which male mold is auricular scaffold model with true proportion, and female mould is empty inside, this space is just like a shape of auricular scaffold. Put granular cartilage into female mould, which makes it fully fits for female mould, and trims by comparing with male mould to make individualized auricular cartilage. Then, implant the scaffold into the back of New Zealand White Rabbit, observe dynamically the shape of reconstructed auricles. Take ear scaffold by batch after operation for 4, 8 and 12 weeks, make pathological sections and immunohistochemical staining of cartilage collagen Ⅱ to further confirm the granule interchondral joints and survival condition of cartilage.Results: Generally observe the reconstructed ears have good shape and clear outline, obvious helix, anthelix and up and down ear angle, and no obvious cartilage absorption has been seen. There is regular gap between granule cartilage in pathological section, and no inflammatory reaction cell in the gap. It is shown that n-butyl α-cyanoacrylate has not been absorbed, but absorbed by organic solvent during tableting procedure. There are lots of newly born cartilage cells in granule cartilage perichondrium inlayer, with small volume, light extracellular matrix and active proliferation, as well as evident increase for newly-born cartilage cells after operation for 4, 8 and 12 weeks. After 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks a batch remove ear bracket, measure the length, width, height and weight, compared with the pre-stent implantation, length, width, height difference was not statistically significant(p> 0.05); Weight the difference was statistically significant(p <0.05). Histopathological detected, with the extension of the time of implantation, the cartilage membrane new cartilage cells gradually increased, the volume increases, mature cartilage cells gradually increased. Cartilage type II collagen immunohistochemical staining was found after 4 weeks, the type Ⅱ collagen staining weakly positive. After 8 weeks, the type Ⅱ collagen staining weakly positive. After 12 weeks, the type Ⅱ collagen staining. After 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, the IOD value difference was statistically significant(p <0.05), indicating that as the extension of the time of implantation, chondrocyte type II collagen expression gradually increased.Conclusion: 1. Combined with 3D pint, granule cartilage plus n-butyl α-cyanoacrylate can make individualized ear scaffold. 2. N-butyl α-cyanoacrylate can joint granule cartilage effectively, and does not affect the survival of cartilage cells. 3. Using 3D print mould, taking pieces of granule cartilage plus n-butyl α-cyanoacrylate adhesive as material to make individualized ear scaffold, which can provides a new way for clinical ear scaffold stent produced, and a theoretical and experimental basis for the future 3D printing ear cartilage scaffold.