Scientists engineer tissue to 3D print replicas of human ears

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell Engineering have announced important advances in the field of reconstructive surgery.

Using cutting-edge tissue engineering and 3D printing techniques, the team was able to create a replica of an adult ear that not only looks but also feels very natural.

This innovative development promises to revolutionize the treatment of people born with congenital malformations or who have lost their hearing due to injury or disease.

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Dr. Jason Spector, chief of plastic surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and professor of plastic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, emphasized the complexity of ear reconstruction. “Ear reconstruction requires multiple surgeries and incredible artistry and skill,” Dr. Spector said.

He further highlighted the potential of this new technology to provide a viable option for thousands of people who require surgery to correct external ear deformities.

Traditionally, surgeons have used cartilage from a patient’s ribs to construct replacement ears, but this process has been fraught with challenges, including pain, scarring, and limited flexibility.

The new method introduces a more natural alternative by incorporating chondrocytes, the cells involved in building cartilage, into a collagen scaffold. Although initially successful, previous attempts faced setbacks as the ear structure began to shrink over time.

To overcome these obstacles, Dr. Spector and his team employed sterile animal-derived cartilage within an intricately engineered ear-shaped plastic scaffold manufactured by 3D printing. Did. These scaffolds are based on precise data from human ears and are reinforced with small pieces of cartilage to promote new tissue formation, effectively prevent shrinkage, and reveal the detailed anatomy of the ear. maintain.

After three to six months, the bioengineered structure developed into cartilage-containing tissue that accurately reproduces the complex features of the ear. Biomechanical testing confirmed that the flexibility and elasticity of the replica closely mirrored that of human ear cartilage.

However, the researchers noted that the artificial material lacks the strength of natural cartilage and is susceptible to tearing.

To address this concern, Dr. Spector plans to make the graft more durable by incorporating chondrocytes derived from the recipient’s own cartilage. This addition aims to replicate the elastic proteins found in ear cartilage and significantly improve biomechanical similarity to the natural ear.

This new research opens the door to new possibilities for those seeking correction of ear deformities and offers hope for solutions that are truly tangible.