Regenerative therapies for tympanic membrane

It is estimated that by 2050 one in every ten people will be suffering from disabling hearing loss. Perforated tympanic membranes (TMs) are the most common injury to human ear, resulting a partial or complete loss due inept sound conduction. Commonly known as eardrum, TM thin, concave tissue of middle ear captures pressure waves environment and transmits them mechanical vibrations inner ear. Microsurgical placement autologous graft has been “gold standard” for treating damaged TMs; however, incongruent structural properties these autografts often impair an optimal restoration following recovery. Moreover, given lack available tissues transplantations, regenerative medicine emerged promising alternative. Several engineered approaches applying bio-instructive scaffolds stimuli have reported regeneration, which can broadly classified into repair reconstruction. This review evaluates current advantages challenges both strategies with special focus on use recent biofabrication technologies advancing engineering.