Ear Cartilage Tissue Engineering Complex for Joint Repair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for repairing articular cartilage lesions, such as autologous chondrocyte implantation and artificial joints, face limitations including damage to the original joint, limited cell proliferation, long construction cycles, and low mechanical strength of the cell-material complex, leading to poor curative effects and complications.

Innovation Solution

An ear cartilage tissue engineering complex comprising a porous frame structure with inoculated ear cartilage gel or sheet pieces, which can undergo chondrogenic culture to form a more integrated structure, providing a biocompatible and mechanically stronger alternative for joint repair by transforming into articular cartilage upon transplantation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autologous chondrocyte implantation is used to repair cartilage defects, then the curative effect is improved, but the original joint is damaged and the construction cycle is long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurative effectVSAvoidconstruction cycle

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-preparing the ear cartilage gel containing chondrocytes before the actual joint repair procedure. The gel is prepared in advance through gelation culture, allowing the chondrocytes to proliferate and form a ready-to-implant material that can be directly injected into the joint defect, thereby shortening the overall construction cycle while maintaining curative effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by utilizing ear cartilage gel as a surrogate material that can be prepared in advance and then transplanted to the joint. The gel serves as a copy or replica of the desired articular cartilage tissue, allowing for pre-preparation and storage before actual implantation, thus reducing the time required during the surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If articular cartilage cells are used for repair, then the repair specificity is improved, but the cell proliferation ability is limited and the mechanical strength is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepair specificityVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining ear cartilage gel with a porous frame structure to form an integrated tissue engineering complex. The gel provides the biological activity and cell proliferation, while the porous frame structure provides mechanical support and structural integrity. This composite approach overcomes the limitation of pure cartilage cells having insufficient mechanical strength while maintaining repair specificity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses porous materials by incorporating a porous frame structure into the tissue engineering complex. The porous structure provides mechanical strength and structural stability while allowing cell infiltration and tissue regeneration. This resolves the contradiction between repair specificity (provided by the gel) and mechanical strength (provided by the porous frame).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional treatment methods are used, then the procedure is simple, but the curative effect is poor and complications occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure simplicityVSAvoidcurative effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by using autologous ear cartilage gel that is prepared from the patient's own tissue. The gel is prepared in advance and can be stored, then directly injected into the joint defect during surgery. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex donor site procedures and reduces surgical time, maintaining procedure simplicity while significantly improving curative effect through better tissue integration and regeneration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The ear cartilage tissue engineering complex effectively repairs joint defects by providing a biocompatible and mechanically robust solution that avoids secondary damage to the joint site, enhances cell expansion, and offers immediate mechanical support with a stable regeneration of cartilage.

Implementation Method 1

The complex comprises a complex formed by inoculating the ear cartilage gel or ear cartilage sheet pieces on the carrier and undergoing chondrogenic culture (in which the ear chondrocytes are loaded on the carrier and form a more closely integrated structure with the carrier)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChondrogenic culture:

Data Source

PatentUS20240091411A1Ear cartilage tissue engineering complex and use thereof

Publication Date: 2024.03.21 SHANGHAI RESTHETIC BIO CO LTD

AI summary

An ear cartilage tissue engineering complex and a preparation method therefor are provided. The complex includes an ear cartilage gel or ear cartilage patch particles containing ear cartilage cells, and a porous frame structure. The ear cartilage gel or ear cartilage patch particles are inoculated onto the porous frame structure to form an ear cartilage gel/ear cartilage patch particle-frame structure complex. The ear cartilage tissue engineering complex is used for the repair and reconstruction of articular cartilage.