Preparation of Antibacterial Gelatin/Genipin Nanofibrous Membrane for Tympanic Membrane Repair

Fabrication and Evaluation of Hyaluronidase-Responsive Scaffolds by Electrospinning with Antibacterial Properties for Tympanic Membrane Repair

Tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) is prevalent in clinical settings. Patients with TMPs often suffer from infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, leading to middle ear and external ear canal infections, which hinder eardrum healing. The objective of this study is to fabricate an enzyme-responsive antibacterial electrospun scaffold using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and hyaluronic acid for the treatment of infected TMPs. The properties of the scaffold were characterized, including morphology, wettability, mechanical properties, degradation properties, antimicrobial properties, and biocompatibility. The results indicated that the fabricated scaffold had a core-shell structure and exhibited excellent mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, degradability, and cytocompatibility. Furthermore, in vitro bacterial tests and ex vivo investigations on eardrum infections suggested that this scaffold possesses hyaluronidase-responsive antibacterial properties. It may rapidly release antibiotics when exposed to the enzyme released by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. These findings suggest that the scaffold has great potential for repairing TMPs with infections.

Antimicrobial poly (1,4-butylene carbonate): Preparation, characterization, and potential applications as a material for tympanic membrane repair

Perforation of the tympanic membrane (TM) is a common condition that often requires a scaffold as a support for surgery. However, because of the external environment of the auditory canal, the scaffold could become bacterially infected and prevent the TM from healing. As a result, the perfect scaffold should have both antibacterial and biomimetic qualities. In this study, the biodegradable biomaterial poly(1,4-butylene carbonate) (PBC) films containing levofloxacin (LEV) was successfully prepared for the first time. The results showed that the hydrophilicity of the LEV/PBC film was improved after the addition of LEV, and the tensile strength was also complied with the requirements of the standard. The created antibacterial film demonstrated excellent antibacterial properties. In vitro hemolysis experiments revealed no risk of hemolysis for the new material, and the cytotoxicity study further confirmed its non-cytotoxic nature. Overall, LEV was a good component of PBC/LEV film, which is expected to be used for TM repair in the future.

Tissue engineering in otology: a review of achievements

Tissue engineering application in otology spans a distance from the pinna to auditory nerve covered with specialized tissues and functions such as sense of hearing and aesthetics. It holds the potential to address the barriers of lack of donor tissue, poor tissue match, and transplant rejection through provision of new and healthy tissues similar to the host and possesses the capacity to renew, to regenerate, and to repair in-vivo and was shown to be a bypasses for any need to immunosuppression. This review aims to investigate the application of tissue engineering in otology and to evaluate the achievements and challenges in external, middle and inner ear sections. Since gaining the recent knowledge and training on use of different scaffolds is essential for otology specialists and who look for the recovery of ear function and aesthetics of patients, it is shown in this review how utilizing tissue engineering and cell transplantation, regenerative medicine can provide advancements in hearing and ear aesthetics to fit different patients' needs.