Cartilage‐Mimicking Hybrid Avascular Hydrogel Scaffold for Stable Auricular Cartilage Regeneration in Microtia Reconstruction

Abstract

A major challenge in auricular reconstruction is the endochondral ossification of engineered cartilage after subcutaneous implantation. To overcome this, we developed a functionally tailored, hybrid hydrogel scaffold that integrates anti‐angiogenic therapy with biomimetic architecture to stabilize the chondrogenic phenotype. The core consists of a DLP‐printed, bevacizumab‐eluting pNAGA‐GT hydrogel framework with 200‐µm resolution, exhibiting a compressive modulus of 5.35 MPa and a tensile modulus of 0.34 MPa, providing robust mechanical support. Sustained bevacizumab release suppresses local angiogenic activity and is accompanied by increased TIMP3 and reduced MMP9/MMP13 expression, thereby contributing to cartilage matrix preservation and reduced ossification. Encapsulating this core, a visible‐light–crosslinked GelMA‐Tyr hydrogel creates a soft (∼15 kPa), degradable (60‐day) microenvironment that spatially organizes chondrocytes and perichondrium‐derived stem/progenitor cells (PSPCs) into a cartilage‐mimetic construct, thereby preserving cell viability and chondrogenic function. This dual‐phase design enables the generation of stable, multilayered ectopic cartilage, offering a clinically translatable strategy for microtia reconstruction.