Chinese scientists made lab grown ears
For the first time, Chinese scientists made lab grown ears for children with genetic defects or no organ. The ears made by using advanced biomedical 3-D printing techniques.
Microtia, an inborn ear defect, which damages the development of the ear, in some conditions child born without ear. According to estimations, the defect shows 1 in every 5000 births. While, the functionality of the ear defect can negatively effect on psychology.
When starting the study, researchers observe the chondrocytes, and then examine the healthy ears then created a new 3-D biodegradable cartilage. Then, researchers placed the chondrocyte cells on the scaffold and enabled them to develop for three months.
After generating scaffold, researchers implanted the reconstruct ears in the five children and then observes the children up to 2 years.
3D cartilage
While, researchers found the formation of the 3D cartilage in four patients taken by six months after the new ear implantation. Among three of the patients, the shape, size and edge of the new ear all coordinated with the other ear. But, in two cases the ear bends slightly after surgery.
Dr. Tessa Hadlock, a chief from Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston, said, these results show significant breakthrough in the clinical application of engineering human ear-shaped cartilage.
Lawrence Bonassar, professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University, said, the main challenges of this approach for microtia are manufacturing and regulatory surveillance. The study shows tissue engineering approaches for reconstruction of the ear and other cartilaginous tissues.
While, this new research is in the initial stages and still far from being idealized as a treatment. With this research, Chinese scientists could lead to new procedures for reconstructing other cartilaginous tissues.
