Critical elements in tissue engineering of craniofacial malformations.

Abnormal craniofacial bone fusion can lead to the generation of several congenital malformations such as cleft palate, craniosynostosis and craniofacial skeletal hypoplasia, which physically and mentally affect patients. Conventional approaches for the treatment of craniofacial malformations such as the transplantation of autologous bone grafts are not completely efficient and usually, patients suffer from various complications. In line with these statements, the advent of novel therapeutic approaches in human medicine is mandatory. Regarding the extent, size and severity of the bone malformation, supplementation and release of oxygen molecules into the affected sites are critical issues for successful osteogenesis. Here, tissue engineering modalities associated with oxygen supplementation and novel approaches associated with hydrogel synthesis were highlighted in terms of craniofacial malformations.

Craniofacial anomalies are a group of conditions that can affect a person's head and facial tissue, mostly bones. These abnormalities can be categorized from mild to severe and commonly include the separation in the lip and the palate (cleft palate), the early joining of the baby's skull bone (craniosynostosis) and problems with the lower jawbone (mandibular defects). Several surgical methods are available to treat these abnormalities, which are invasive and have many disadvantages. In this review, we discuss new treatments in regenerative medicine as well as the importance factors of such as oxygen delivery in these methods. The provision of oxygen plays a key role in the growth of new blood vessels, cellular growth and bone tissue reconstruction.

In Vitro and In Vivo Studies of Alar-Nasal Cartilage Using Autologous Micro-Grafts: The Use of the Rigenera® Protocol in the Treatment of an Osteochondral Lesion of the Nose.

Cartilage defects represent a serious problem due to the poor regenerative properties of this tissue. Regarding the nose, nasal valve collapse is associated with nasal blockage and persistent airway obstruction associated with a significant drop in the quality of life for patients. In addition to surgical techniques, several cell-based tissue-engineering strategies are studied to improve cartilage support in the nasal wall, that is, to ameliorate wall insufficiency. Nevertheless, there are no congruent data available on the benefit for patients during the follow-up time. In this manuscript, we propose an innovative approach in the treatment of cartilage defects in the nose (nasal valve collapse) based on autologous micro-grafts obtained by mechanical disaggregation of a small portion of cartilage tissue (Rigenera® protocol). In particular, we first analyzed in vitro murine and human cartilage micro-grafts; secondly, we analyzed the clinical results of a patient with pinched nose deformity treated with autologous micro-grafts of chondrocytes obtained by Rigenera® protocol. The use of autologous micro-graft produced promising results in surgery treatment of cartilage injuries and could be safely and easily administrated to patients with cartilage tissue defects.