nm4bl2110 – Development of biomimetic tympanic membrane substitutes for the treatment of chronic perforations

Ainhoa-Irastorza-NM4BL_AbstractPoster-2
Development of biomimetic tympanic membrane substitutes for the treatment of chronic perforations

Ainhoa Irastorza1, Carlos Chiesa2, Ander Izeta1*, Pedro Guerrero3*, Koro de la Caba3*
1 Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Tissue Engineering Group
2 Donostia University Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
3 University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), BIOMAT Research Group
* ander.izeta@biodonostia.org, pedromanuel.guerrero@ehu.eus, koro.delacaba@ehu.eus
Perforation of the tympanic membrane (PTM) is a common cause of consultation in Otolaryngology, due to infections or trauma. The rate of recovery from perforation depends mainly on the size of the perforation and the secondary infections developed. Although most PTMs heal spontaneously, complications in healing can lead to a chronic defect. As a consequence, the chronicity of PTM causes a number of problems for the affected patient such as partial hearing loss. The traditional technique used in the treatment of PTM, known as myringoplasty, uses temporalis muscle fascia or tragal cartilage for closure of PTMs, with its associated morbidity and cost. Thus, there is growing interest in the application of biocompatible materials as a scaffold for regeneration. The aim is therefore the development and validation of protein-based biomaterials for the manufacture of scaffolds to be used as tympanic membrane substitutes.
For this purpose, a scaffold was designed based mainly on porcine gelatine and complemented with support materials that confer properties of interest. Subsequently, the scaffold was characterised by water uptake, water vapour transmission rate and degradation degree analysis. Moreover, pressure resistance was evaluated by means of a puncture test and mucoadhesion capacity to assess its placement in the surrounding tissue. Finally, the biocompatibility of a fibroblast cell line exposed to the material was analysed. The results showed that both intrinsic and functional properties make the material suitable for application. Therefore, the study of TM substitute integration, regeneration and functionality in a rat model of chronic PTM will be conducted.