An international research team including Ralph Müller from the ETH Zürich is trying to stimulate new developments in surgical reconstruction of ears. This is one of the biggest challenges in the field of reconstructive surgery.
Background
In about one in 10,000 births, the visible outer part of the ear, the auricle, is severely malformed or absent. Furthermore, tumours and injuries can damage or disfigure the auricle. For such patients it is important for their psychological and emotional well-being to have as normal an appearance as possible. This particularly applies to children.
Without reconstructive surgery, many patients suffer from diminished self-confidence due to their obvious deformities. Successful reconstruction of the outer part of the ear has in the past led to significant psychosocial improvements in the majority of treated patients.
Current approaches to ear reconstruction are still inadequate despite advances in stem cell technology and in the field of biomaterials. The project focuses on the development of a novel biomaterial called bacterial cellulose. The project is truly interdisciplinary since it combines engineering science, such as imaging and biomechanics, material science expertise at the nano-scale, as well as biotechnology, cell biology and medical science.
Aim
The aim of this project is to develop a novel biomaterial that can be used for ear reconstruction. In a next step, the material will be tested on rats.
Significance
This project is focused on ear regeneration. However, the methods and results developed here will also be applicable in the regeneration of other cartilaginous tissues such as nose, trachea, spine and joints.
Original title: EAREG - Ear tissue Regeneration using human cells and Novel nano-Cellulose Scaffolds (ERA-Net EuroNanoMedicine)
Grant: CHF 125’000.-
Duration: 36 months
Project leader
- Prof. Ralph Müller, Institut für Biomechanik, ETH Zürich
- Prof. Paul Gatenholm, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SE
- Prof. Nicole Rotter, Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkund Universitätsklinikum Ulm, DE
- Prof. Gerjo van Osch, Departments of Orthopaedics and Otorhinolaryngology Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, NL
- Jens Riesle, CellCoTec, Bilthoven, NL
- Anette Jork, CellMed AG, Alzenau, DE