Now hear this: The hearing-impaired may soon benefit from a new
3D-printed bionic ear developed by researchers at Princeton University.
In their abstract, the scientists said the new ear interweaves
"biological tissue with functional electronics" to form prosthetics.
"As a proof of concept, we generated a bionic ear via 3D printing of a
cell-seeded hydrogel matrix in the precise anatomic geometry of a human
ear, along with an intertwined conducting polymer consisting of infused
silver nanoparticles," they said in their abstract.
The result? A printed ear that has "enhanced" auditory sensing for
radio frequency reception, and complementary left and right ears can
listen to stereo audio music.
"Overall, our
approach suggests a means to intricately merge biologic and
nanoelectronic functionalities via 3D printing," they said.
A separate article on SciTech Daily said the researchers used off-the-shelf printing tools to create the functional ear.
Lead researcher Michael McAlpine, an assistant professor of mechanical
and aerospace engineering at Princeton, said there were mechanical and
thermal challenges with interfacing electronic materials with biological
materials.
“Previously, researchers have
suggested some strategies to tailor the electronics so that this merger
is less awkward. That typically happens between a 2D sheet of
electronics and a surface of the tissue. However, our work suggests a
new approach — to build and grow the biology up with the electronics
synergistically and in a 3D interwoven format,” he said.
McAlpine’s team has made advances involving small-scale medical sensors
and antenna. Last year, a research effort resulted in a “tattoo”
composed of a biological sensor and antenna that can be installed in a
tooth.
In their article, the researchers said
the design and implementation of bionic organs and devices that enhance
human capabilities, "has been an area of increasing scientific
interest.”
The researchers, in building the bionic ear, used 3D printing and computer-assisted design.
Meanwhile, Manu Mannoor, a graduate student in McAlpine’s lab and the
paper’s lead author, said additive manufacturing allows the creation of
true bionic organs.
Yet, David Gracias, an
associate professor at Johns Hopkins and co-author on the publication,
said bridging biology and electronics remains a formidable challenge.
“Biological structures are soft and squishy, composed mostly of water
and organic molecules, while conventional electronic devices are hard
and dry, composed mainly of metals, semiconductors and inorganic
dielectrics,” he said.
Even high school student
Ziwen Jiang, who participated in the team's work as part of an outreach
program for young researchers in McAlpine’s lab, was praised for his
work.
“We would not have been able to complete
this project without him, particularly in his skill at mastering CAD
designs of the bionic ears,” McAlpine said. — TJD, GMA News
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