A medical team in the U.S. said on Thursday that they have reconstructed a human ear using the patient's own tissue to build a 3D bioimplant, a groundbreaking surgery that they hope can one day be used to treat others with a rare birth condition.
The implant, known as AuriNovo, was created by 3DBio Therapeutics, and the procedure was performed by Arturo Bonilla, founder and director of the Microtia-Congenital Ear Deformity Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
The surgery was part of an early-stage clinical experiment to assess the implant's safety and efficacy in persons with microtia, a condition in which the external ear is small and poorly shaped.
"As a physician who has treated thousands of children with microtia from across the country and around the world, I am inspired by what this technology may mean for microtia patients and their families," Bonilla said in a statement.
He expressed hope that the implant might one day replace the existing treatment for microtia, which entails either grafting cartilage from a patient's ribs or reconstructing outer ears with synthetic materials such as porous polyethylene (PPE).
The technique begins with 3D scanning the patient's opposite ear to develop a template, followed by the collection of a sample of their ear cartilage cells and their growth to a sufficient number.
These cells are combined with collagen-based bio-ink to form an outer ear. The implant is enclosed with a printed, biodegradable shell that provides immediate support but is gradually consumed by the patient's body.
The implanted ear is expected to mature over time, acquiring the natural appearance and feel, including elasticity, of a normal ear.
The clinical trial, which is being conducted in California and Texas, is expected to enroll 11 participants.
Microtia affects one out of every 2,000-10,000 babies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetic mothers and a maternal diet deficient in carbs and folic acid are two factors that can increase risk.
Boys are more likely than girls to be afflicted, and Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native Americans are more affected than non-Hispanic Whites.
Children with microtia can develop normally and lead healthy lives in the absence of additional disorders, though they may struggle with self-esteem and face taunting and bullying because of their appearance.
3DBio plans to develop implants with more severe kinds of microtia in the future.
Other cartilage-related disorders that potentially benefit from 3D printed implants include nose abnormalities or injuries, breast reconstruction, torn meniscus in the knee, and rotator cuff tears in the shoulders.
