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DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1711062
Functional properties of eardrum replacement scaffolds from tissue engineering techniques
Introduction Synthetic scaffolds are in focus to overcome the disadvantages (unknown mechanical properties and structure during surgery) of autologous tissues in eardrum reconstruction. The aim is a biomimetic design, which enables good vibration properties and a stable reconstruction.
Methods A dual-scale fabrication strategy combining electrospinning (ES) and additive manufacturing (AM) was implemented for creating flat poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) scaffolds with defined thickness as well as radial and circular fibers.
For the comparison to native human eardrums, the specimens were clamped clearly defined in a test rig. Acoustic sound pressure of about 90 dB SPL (multi sinusoidal signal, 100 Hz to 5 kHz) and quasi-static pressure in a physiological range up to 4 kPa was applied. The vibration behavior was measured with laser-Doppler vibrometry. At once, the displacement was acquired by laser triangulation.
Results The thicker scaffolds provide an about 100 Hz to 150 Hz lower first resonance frequency (stiffness characteristic) compared to the thinner ones. They vibrate in the range of human eardrums (below about 500 Hz). A combination of circular and radial fibers provide a bigger stiffness compared to solely circular or radial fibers. At quasi-static pressure, the scaffolds provide a lower stiffening compared to the human eardrum.
Conclusion It is possible to create flat scaffolds mimicking the eardrum vibration behavior. Defined circular and radial fiber arrangement leads to tunable mechanical properties.
Poster-PDF A-1772.PDF
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Dieses Projekt wird im Rahmen von EuroNanoMed III und vom Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung gefordert.
Publication History
Article published online:
10 June 2020
© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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