Scientists In China Use Five Children’s Cells To Grow Them Replacement Ears
- 6 years ago
Scientists in China have corrected a defect in the ears of five children by using harvested cells from each to grow customized replacements.
Scientists in China have corrected a defect in the ears of five children by using harvested cells from each to grow customized replacements.
The procedure is a world's first and involved a number of complicated and lengthy steps. The team took scans of each child's non-affected ear and made 3D-printed molds out of a biodegradable material. Those models were then injected with cells gathered from the ear affected by microtia, a condition that prevents full formation. Over the 12 weeks it took for the lab-grown ears to replace parts of the base structure with biological material, the subjects underwent procedures to stretch their skin to accommodate the upcoming insertion. Each implantation was successful, but to varying degrees. Though all the recipients' bodies accepted the new ear structures, two experienced slight deformations over time and as the cells continued to replace the biodegradable mold material. The team plans to continue to monitor the patients for the coming years and further refine their technique.
Scientists in China have corrected a defect in the ears of five children by using harvested cells from each to grow customized replacements.
The procedure is a world's first and involved a number of complicated and lengthy steps. The team took scans of each child's non-affected ear and made 3D-printed molds out of a biodegradable material. Those models were then injected with cells gathered from the ear affected by microtia, a condition that prevents full formation. Over the 12 weeks it took for the lab-grown ears to replace parts of the base structure with biological material, the subjects underwent procedures to stretch their skin to accommodate the upcoming insertion. Each implantation was successful, but to varying degrees. Though all the recipients' bodies accepted the new ear structures, two experienced slight deformations over time and as the cells continued to replace the biodegradable mold material. The team plans to continue to monitor the patients for the coming years and further refine their technique.