Woman Receives World's First 3D Printed Ear

A Mexican woman has become the first ever person to receive an ear transplant with 3D printed technology.

The 20-year-old patient named Alexa was born with a rare birth defect called microtia, which causes the external part of the ear to be tiny and can also inhibit hearing.

Dr Arturo Bonilla, a paediatric ear reconstructive surgeon in San Antonio, was behind the successful transplant, which involved numerous stages. 

Miccrotia.net

Firstly, Dr Bonilla removed half a gram of cartilage from Alex’s microtia ear and sent the sample to 3DBio Therapeutics in Long Island City alongside a 3D scan of Alexa’s healthy ear, Sky News reports.

At 3DBio Therapeutics, cells responsible for cartilage formation (chondrocytes) were removed from Alexa’s tissue sample and grown using nutrients, which turned the chondrocytes into billions of cells. 

Alexa’s cells were then put into a 3D bio-printer and turned into a replica of her healthy ear before being printed. 

According to the outlet, the entire process was completed in under ten minutes. 

Next, the printed ear was sent back to Dr Bonilla in cold storage. Once he received it, the ear was implanted just above Alexa's jawline.

Once Alexa’s skin tightened around the 3D implant, the shape of her new ear began to form. 

Alamy

Of the procedure, Dr Bonilla said: "This is so exciting, sometimes I have to temper myself a little bit.

"If everything goes as planned, this will revolutionise the way this is done."

It was when Alexa entered her teenage years that she started to feel self-conscious about her appearance and would cover her ear with her hair.

Now that she’s had the transplant, Alexa expressed excitement over the fact she can now wear her hair up.

She said: "You care a little more for your image when you're a teenager. Some people said things that were not thoughtful, and it started bothering me. I think my self-esteem will go up."

According to Euronews, bioprinting works similarly to 3D printing, which sees digital blueprints create an object layer by layer.

Alamy

However, instead of using metal or plastic, bioprinting uses what’s been dubbed ‘bioink’ - a sort of gel that’s packed with living cells. 

Speaking to the outlet earlier this year, Dr Christophe Marquette - who specialises in scientific research at University Lyon 1 - said he is in ‘no doubt’ that vital organs like livers, lungs and hearts will soon be printed for transplant.

Dr Marquette guessed that in ‘20 years’ lab-grown organs will be being successfully transplanted into humans.

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