autologous micro-tissue-engineered cartilage

Autologous micro-tissue-engineered cartilage (AMTEC) is an advanced regenerative medicine product developed by researchers at the Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital and Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. This cell therapy is specifically designed for the reconstruction of complex tissue defects in the nose and adjacent maxillofacial regions. The process involves harvesting a small biopsy of the patient's own cartilage, followed by the isolation and in vitro expansion of chondrocytes. These cells are then aggregated into "micro-tissues" (small, dense cell spheroids) which serve as the building blocks for larger, anatomically shaped cartilage grafts. Unlike traditional tissue engineering that relies on large synthetic scaffolds, the micro-tissue approach promotes superior cell-to-cell interaction and extracellular matrix production, leading to improved graft maturation, mechanical stability, and biological integration. This therapy provides a functional, living alternative to prosthetic implants or invasive autologous rib grafts for patients with maxillofacial deformities.

Other names

AMTECautologous chondrocyte micro-tissuestissue-engineered cartilagechondrocyte micro-tissues