Ears from the printer
3D printer printed ears for children with underdevelopment of the auricle
Natalia Pelezneva, Naked Science
Using 3D bioprinting technologies, a group of Chinese scientists and doctors helped children suffering from microtia – congenital underdevelopment of the auricle. New ears for transplantation were grown from patients' own cells. The desired shape of the auricle was created for each child individually using 3D modeling.
Drawings from an article in EBioMedicine
Microtia occurs in one of 8,000-10,000 newborns. At the same time, the forms of violations can be different: from a reduced auricle with distinguishable structures to the complete absence of the outer part of the ear. Microtia can affect both one and both ears of a newborn. Most often, silicone or polyethylene implants or external prostheses of the auricle are installed in patients with microtia.
Five children aged 6 to 9 years became patients of Chinese surgeons. All of them suffered from unilateral microtia – violations affected only one ear. Healthy ears served as a model for 3D models, according to which the auricles were later "printed". The images were taken using computed tomography. According to the models, "mirror" silicone molds for a biodegradable base were made. The basis for the organs was created from polycaprolactone – polyester with a relatively low melting point. The material was coated with polyglycolide thread, and then a layer of polylactide was applied. All these substances are capable of disintegrating in the body, therefore they are used in medicine as suture material or bases for implants.
The course of the procedure
The base was covered with cartilage tissue cells (chondrocytes) obtained from healthy ears of patients by biopsy. Each ear was grown for about three months, then they were transplanted to children. The first operation took place 2.5 years ago – no violations were recorded in the girl who received a new ear. In other patients, there are also no signs of organ rejection, in two children, doctors revealed minor violations of the growth of the auricles.
The researchers plan to monitor the condition of the children over the next five years. By this time, the process of decomposition of the artificial base will be over, and it will be possible to draw final conclusions about how successful the technique turned out to be.
An article about the operations was published in the journal EBioMedicine.
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