• 文献标题:   Interfacing Perforated Eardrums with Graphene-Based Membranes for Broadband Hearing Recovery
  • 文献类型:   Article
  • 作  者:   LI CY, XIONG ZY, ZHOU L, HUANG WL, HE YS, LI LP, SHI HB, LU JY, WANG J, LI D, YIN SK
  • 作者关键词:   broadband frequency, eardrum perforation, graphene membrane, hearing, interface
  • 出版物名称:   ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
  • ISSN:   2192-2640 EI 2192-2659
  • 通讯作者地址:  
  • 被引频次:   1
  • DOI:   10.1002/adhm.202201471 EA AUG 2022
  • 出版年:   2022

▎ 摘  要

Eardrum perforation and associated hearing loss is a global health problem. Grafting perforated eardrum with autologous tissues in clinic can restore low-frequency hearing but often leaves poor recovery of high-frequency hearing. In this study, the potential of incorporating a thin multilayered graphene membrane (MGM) into the eardrum for broadband hearing recovery in rats is examined. The MGM shows good biocompatibility and biostability to promote the growth of eardrum cells in a regulated manner with little sign of tissue rejection and inflammatory response. After three weeks of implantation, the MGM is found to be encapsulated by a thin layer of newly grown tissue on both sides without a significant folded overgrowth that is often seen in natural healing. The perforation is well sealed, and broadband hearing recovery (1-32 kHz) is enabled and maintained for at least 2 months. Mechanical simulations show that the high elastic modulus of MGM and thin thickness of the reconstructed eardrum play a critical role in the recovery of high-frequency hearing. This work demonstrates the promise of the use of MGM as a functional graft for perforated eardrum to recover hearing in the broadband frequency region and suggests a new acoustics-related medical application for graphene-related 2D materials.