Abstract: Objective To explore the feasibility of constructing a penis-shaped cartilage using tissue engineering and 3D printing technologies. Methods A composite scaffold composed of PCL/HA and PGA/PLA were prepared for the reconstruction of penis-shaped cartilage by 3D printing. The penis-shaped PCL/HA scaffold prepared by 3D printing was beset between two separate PGA/PLA scaffolds that have a penis-shaped appearance. Articular chondrocytes were obtained from one-day-old roasters and then proliferated in order to meet the need of seeding sufficient cell into grafts. Cell-seeded constructs were cultivated in cartilage-inducing media for 4 weeks and then implanted under the dorsum skin of athymic nude mice. After 8 weeks' cultivation in vivo, constructs were harvested and grossly observed. Then the specimens were sagittally dissected to observe the interface between the regenerated cartilage and the porous PCL/HA scaffold and histology of engineered cartilage was examined in vivo. Results Penis-shaped models made of PCL/HA were printed into an exact penis shape and then composite scaffolds were assembled into a verisimilar penis. In the process of reconstruction, the initial shape of cell-seeded constructs were generally maintained. The surface of the specimens was smooth and continuous and no vascularization was observed. In cross section, the PCL/HA core were completely surrounded by the homogeneous neocartilage and the two phase interlocked well with each other. Conclusion It is feasible to construct a penis-shaped cartilage with the PCL/HA core surrounded by the homogeneous neocartilage by using tissue engineering and 3D printing technologies.

Key words: Tissue engineering, 3D-printing, Composite scaffold, Penis cartilage