Tissue Engineering
Tissue Engineering is a revolutionary field. The principles of various sciences
are combined towards developing tissues and organs to repair or replace damaged
or diseased structures in patients, enabling them to resume normal lives. The
creation of skin for treatment of burns patients and in cartilage for arthritis
sufferers are the most advanced areas for tissue engineering research. With the
commitment to provide greater options for the hearing impaired community,
scientists at Ear Science Institute Austrlia are drawing from this
innovative field of knowledge in a current research project which aims to
replicate the ear drum.
Tissue Engineering and the Ear
Advances in cartilage and bone tissue engineering have enabled the outer ear
and parts of the ear canal to be reconstructed. The intricate bones of the
middle ear; the malleus, incus and stapes, can potentially be replicated. The
inner ear is the most complex, consisting of fine hair cells in the cochlea,
nerves that lead to the brain, and the balance canals. Preliminary studies have
demonstrated the ability to restore function to the cochlea, while others are
regrowing nerve cells.
The aim of the Ear Science Institute's tissue engineering research is
to grow an eardrum that has the three main structural layers present in the
normal eardrum. The tympanic membrane is being investigated by various microscopy
techniques to determine its structure, to identify the cells and determine their
function. Cells will be grown on a scaffold that will give the artificial eardrum
its strength. This research will be conducted in a bioreactor (a specified chamber)
to allow efficient growth of the cells by stimulating the conditions of the normal
ear.
Lions Hearing Foundation Tissue Engineering Laboratory
Specialised equipment in strictly controlled environments is required for
successful cell growth. The Lions Hearing Foundation is supporting the work of the
research team by sponsoring the setting up of a dedicated tissue engineering
facility. This will be invaluable in establishing Ear Science
Institute Australia as an innovative participant in cutting-edge research.
The breadth of outer, middle and inner ear disease provides the ear specialist with
a number of challenging therapeutic dilemmas. In future, the research will
concentrate on generating other ear structures, such as the ear bones, mastoid skin
and the cochlear. Embracing the philosophy of tissue engineering will provide ear
specialists with fresh and creative solutions that have the potential to drastically
reduce the social isolation suffered by an increasing number of community members
with hearing impairments.
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