We have developed a unique method that allows us to culture large volumes of chondrocyte expansion from a small piece of human elastic cartilage. The characteristic features of our culturing method are that fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), which promotes proliferation of elastic chondrocytes, is added to a culture medium, and that cell-engineering techniques are adopted in the multilayered culture system that we have developed. We have subsequently discovered that once multilayered chondrocytes are transplanted into a human body, differentiation induction that makes use of surrounding tissue occurs in situ, and a large cartilage block is obtained through cartinogenesis and matrix formation. We have named this method two-stage transplantation. We have clinically applied this transplantation method to the congenital ear defect, microtia, and reported successful ear reconstruction. In our present study, we demonstrated that when FGF2 was added to elastic chondrocytes, the cell count increased and the level of hyaluronic acid, which is a major extracellular matrix (ECM) component, increased. We also demonstrated that these biochemical changes are reflected in the morphology, with the elastic chondrocytes themselves producing a matrix and fibers in vitro to form a natural scaffold. We then demonstrated that inside the natural scaffold thus formed, the cells overlap, connect intercellularly to each other, and reconstruct a cartilage-like three-dimensional structure in vitro. We further demonstrated by immunohistochemical analysis and electron microscopic analysis that when the multilayered chondrocytes are subsequently transplanted into a living body (abdominal subcutaneous region) in the two-stage transplantation process, neocartilage and neoperichondrium of elastic cartilage origin are regenerated 6 months after transplantation. Further, evaluation by dynamic mechanical analysis showed the regenerated neocartilage to have the same viscoelasticity as normal auricular cartilage. Using our multilayered culture system supplemented with FGF2, elastic chondrocytes produce an ECM and also exhibit an intercellular network; therefore, they are able to maintain tissue integrity post-transplantation. These findings realized a clinical application for generative cartilage surgery.

A small number of chondrocytes obtained from a 1-cm auricular cartilage are successfully cultured into a large number of cells in a gel form. Those autologous auricular chondrocytes in a gel form allow for the repair of complicated shapes of the defect area. This technique is applicable to various treatments for craniofacial or nose deformity.

A new method of nasal augmentation has been developed, in which cultured autologous chondrocytes are transplanted. Using biotechnology, a piece of the choncha cartilage 1 cm2 is cultured into a gel-type mass of chondrocytes, which then is transplanted by injection into a surgically created subperiosteal skin pocket on the nasal dorsum. The augmented nose is taped and protected for 1 week. The grafted chondrocytes develop into mature cartilaginous tissue after approximately 1 month. This method was used in eight cases of nasal augmentation, and one case of chin augmentation (performed simultaneously), and one case of depressed deformity on the forehead. The results obtained by this method to date have been satisfactory after a follow-up time of 6 to 24 months. The authors believe that this method may at least partially be able to replace silicone implantation for nasal augmentation.

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