Research Progress
3D Printed Bionic Ears
Post: 2015-11-26 07:44  View:1659
 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
 Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
§ Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
 
Nano Lett.201313 (6), pp 2634–2639
 
Abstract
Abstract Image

The ability to three-dimensionally interweave biological tissue with functional electronics could enable the creation of bionic organs possessing enhanced functionalities over their human counterparts. Conventional electronic devices are inherently two-dimensional, preventing seamless multidimensional integration with synthetic biology, as the processes and materials are very different. Here, we present a novel strategy for overcoming these difficulties via additive manufacturing of biological cells with structural and nanoparticle derived electronic elements. As a proof of concept, we generated a bionic ear via 3D printing of a cell-seeded hydrogel matrix in the anatomic geometry of a human ear, along with an intertwined conducting polymer consisting of infused silver nanoparticles. This allowed for in vitro culturing of cartilage tissue around an inductive coil antenna in the ear, which subsequently enables readout of inductively-coupled signals from cochlea-shaped electrodes. The printed ear exhibits 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.

Keywords: 

Cyberneticstissue engineeringbioelectronicscyborg organselectronic implantsadditive manufacturing

 

Full text is available at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/nl4007744

 

Address: C508 Dingxin Building, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
Copyright © 2024 International Society of Bionic Engineering All Rights Reserved
吉ICP备11002416号-1