Evaluation of Bioprinted Autologous Cartilage Grafts in an Immunocompetent Rabbit Model [data]

The intervention may require multiple surgical procedures and lead to donor-site morbidity, while the outcome is highly dependent on individual surgical skills. A tissue engineering approach provides the means to produce cartilage grafts of a defined shape from autologous chondrocytes.

The use of autologous cells minimizes the risk of host immune response; however, factors such as biomaterial compatibility and in vitro maturation of the tissue-engineered (TE) cartilage may influence the engraftment and shape-stability of TE implants. Here we tested the biocompatibility of bioprinted cartilage constructs containing autologous auricular chondrocytes in a rabbit model. The TE cartilage was produced by embedding autologous auricular chondrocytes into hyaluronan transglutaminase (HATG)-based bioink, previously shown to support chondrogenesis in human auricular chondrocytes in vitro and in immunocompromised xenotransplantation models in vivo.