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.