Effects of Epidermal Growth Factor-Loaded Radially Oriented Nano-patterned Patch on Chronic Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Abstract. Most chronic tympanic membrane perforations are treated with surgical intervention such as tympanoplasty, unlike acute tympanic membrane perforation. Radially aligned nanopatterns are anticipated to enhance migration and wound closure. Furthermore, EGF could improve viability of tympanic membrane (TM) cells. The purpose of this study was to develop a nonsurgical treatment technique for regeneration of chronic tympanic membrane perforation. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) loaded nano-patterned polycaprolactone (PCL, Mw=80,000) patch was fabricated by electrospinning technique. The radially patterned patches which have 200-400 nm diameters of single fiber were successfully fabricated. Their radial alignments were evaluated by image J software. TM cells were seeded on the radially and randomly oriented PCL patches and EGF loaded and EGF unloaded patches. After 5 days TM cell proliferation on EGF loaded radially oriented nano-patterned patch was higher than those of other groups. In animal study, the EGF-patterned group was treated with EGF loaded radially oriented nano-patterned patches, and the EGF-random group was treated with EGF loaded randomly oriented nano-patterned patches, while the control group was not treated. The closure rate of EGF-patterned group was 12.1% (4/33), EGF-random group was 16.1% (5/31), and control group was 14.2% (2/14). The EGF-loaded radially aligned nano-patterned patch can be an effective for regeneration chronic tympanic membrane perforation.