Ear from the printer
An American woman was implanted with an ear shell printed on a 3D bioprinter
Mikhail Podrezov, N+1
American doctors implanted a 20-year-old girl with microtia with an ear shell printed on a 3D bioprinter from the cells of the cartilage tissue of the patient's ear itself. The surgical operation was performed as part of the clinical trials of the AuriNovo implant. This is reported in the press release of 3DBio Therapeutics.
Microtia is a congenital malformation of development, which is characterized by a partial or complete absence of the auricle or one of its parts. As a rule, it is combined with the absence (atresia) of the external auditory canal, and in about a third of cases — with underdevelopment of the facial part of the skeleton, for example, the lower jaw. The frequency of this anomaly varies in different populations. Scientists report that it occurs with a probability of 0.83 to 17.4 cases per 10,000 newborns. It is believed that microtia is more common in Latinos, Asians, Native Americans and Andean residents.
The problem of reconstructing the auricle occupies a special place in reconstructive surgery, which is explained by the complexity of the relief, the presence of a thin cartilaginous plate between the layers of the skin, as well as the peculiarities of attachment to the skull. To restore it, at least a supporting frame and a cover material are needed. The first one is often made from the rib cartilage of the patient himself, the receipt of which can be accompanied by various complications. However, a few years ago, scientists presented a bioprinter that prints tissues from living cells that can retain their shape and take root in the body. So, the auricles made with his help, planted in mice, continued to retain their shape two months later. Testing of such implants on humans was also planned to begin with the auricles, since cartilage does not require an extensive system of blood vessels.
Regenerative medicine company 3DBio Therapeutics and the Institute of Microtia (Microtia-Congenital Ear Deformity Institute) announced that they transplanted a 20-year-old girl named Alexa, who suffered from congenital deformity of the auricle, an AuriNovo implant printed on a 3D bioprinter. As a material for its manufacture, scientists used the patient's own cells (chondrocytes) — they were grown in the laboratory, taking a fragment of the cartilage tissue of her ear. In order for the implant to fully match the shape of a healthy auricle, the researchers conducted a 3D scan of the patient's left ear. The implantation procedure itself was carried out by a team of doctors led by Arturo Bonilla — founder and director of the Institute of Microtia in San Antonio.
According to Bonilla, he hopes that the new technology can replace modern surgical methods of reconstruction of the auricle, in which implants are made of rib cartilage or porous polyethylene. It is reported that the operation was carried out as part of the clinical stage of trials 1/2a, in which researchers will collect data on the safety of this procedure, as well as its effectiveness. It is expected that 11 patients from Los Angeles and San Antonio.
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