Research Projects

Rationale/gaps in existing knowledge: Clinically, the gold standard treatment for TMPs is tympanoplasty. For decades, xenogeneic and autologous tissues have been grafted through surgery. However, the procedure has serious disadvantages such as mechanobiological incompatibility, graft uptake and degradation, thinning and translucence of the graft, leading to repeated surgeries in around 20-25% of cases. Also, complete restoration of the hearing capacity is rarely attained with such an expensive procedure. Novelty: The proposed research can replace the expensive and complicated surgical procedure with an alternative, simplified, though modern tissue engineering solution by developing a personalised bio-adhesive 3D printed patch utilising bio-waste without surgery and high cost. Objectives: The primary research objective is to utilise human placenta (bio-waste after childbirth) to develop a tunable bio-ink for 3D bioprinting of the bio-adhesive patch, which can regenerate the damaged tissue and reconcile the TM to normal conditions to recover the hearing loss. Methods: Photo-cross-linkable bio-ink will be synthesised using synthetic or semisynthetic polymers (e.g., cellulose) and placenta extract. The bio-adhesive patches will be printed through a 3D Bioprinter, e.g., extrusion or DLP-based printer. 3D printed hydrogel patches will be further characterised for mechanobiology, surface morphology, degradation, in vitro, and in vivo studies. Expected Outcomes: Bio-adhesive patches can be a potential alternative to tympanoplasty with patient compliance and will reach the mass population at an affordable cost in developing countries like India. Such a 3D-printed patch can also act as a scaffold for critical and diabetic wounds, internal injuries, and postoperative rapid healing.