Breaking the silence: nano-engineered scaffolds for tympanic membrane regeneration

The tympanic membrane (TM) is an essential element of the human auditory system. Any damage to it directly affects the sound conduction pathway of human hearing, resulting in impaired auditory function. Most clinical interventions addressing the repair of damaged TMs have predominantly relied on autologous tissue grafts, leading to suboptimal restoration of the patient’s hearing capacity. This thesis aimed to advance the current tissue engineering strategies available for the restoration of perforated TMs by integrating a variety of nanofeatures into biofabricated constructs. Four key aspects were identified in this regard for an anatomical and functional replication of the native tissue: (1) geometry, (2) biomaterial, (3) drug delivery, and (4) stimulation. Ultimately, independent assessment of these elements at the sub-micron or nano level allowed the development of biomimetic scaffolds for reconstructing the damaged TM with the required 3D architecture, biomaterial properties, immunomodulatory response, antibacterial characteristics, and extracellular environment.