Denver Khoo, Owen Ung, Daniela Blomberger and Dietmar W Hutmacher
University of Queensland, Australia
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Australia
Queensland University of Technology - Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Australia
ARC Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing - Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Material Sci Eng
Nipple-areola complex reconstruction is a common procedure that often accompanies breast reconstruction. Historically, local skin flaps were utilised for nipple reconstruction, with more recent techniques exploring the addition of implanted material. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TE&RM) represents a potential source of stable and biocompatible implantable tissue which may have a positive effect on cosmetic outcomes. Conventional TE&RM techniques involve seeding a scaffold with the patientsâ?? own cells and using growth factors to promote survival. The clinical applicability of these techniques is limited by its cost and ability to produce sufficient volumes of viable tissue. This article reviews the evolution of nipple reconstruction techniques and current TE&RM protocols; these two fields are then combined to propose a novel approach of using TE&RM scaffolds to augment conventional nipple reconstruction.
E-mail: denver.khoo@health.qld.gov.au
Journal of Material Sciences & Engineering received 3677 citations as per Google Scholar report