Cochlear Implant
There is an unmet medical need for the effective delivery of drugs to the inner ear. Hearing loss not opnly medical, but also social problem. Drug Delivery challenging due to barriers and clearance processes. The controlled delivery with degradable polymers is a rational and promising approach. Specific challenges: small size, biocompatibility, tuned mechanical properties. Innovative and unique delivery systems developed in Halle. Permit personalized medicine.
Prof. Dr. Stefan K. Plontke
Prof. Dr. Karsten Mäder
Publications
Plontke SK, Liebau A, Lehner E, Bethmann D, Mäder K, Rahne T. Safety and audiological outcome in a case series of tertiary therapy of sudden hearing loss with a biodegradable drug delivery implant for controlled release of dexamethasone to the inner ear. Front Neurosci. 2022;16:892777. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.892777
Lehner E, Gündel D, Liebau A, Plontke S, Mäder K. Intracochlear PLGA based implants for dexamethasone release: Challenges and solutions. Int J Pharm X. 2019;1:100015. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2019.100015.
Lehner E, Menzel M, Gündel D, Plontke SK, Mäder K, Klehm J, Kielstein H, Liebau A. Microimaging of a novel intracochlear drug delivery device in combination with cochlear implants in the human inner ear. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2022;12(1):257-266. doi: 10.1007/s13346-021-00914-9.
Collaborative research centers / Network
Patents / Awards
Best Paper of the January 2022 Issue of Drug Delivery & Translational Research.
General feasibility shown in human!
High translation potential.