Silicone matrices for controlled dexamethasone release: toward a better understanding of the underlying mass transport mechanisms.

Dexamethasone-loaded silicone matrices offer an interesting potential as innovative drug delivery systems, e.g. for the treatment of inner ear diseases or for pacemakers.

Long term behavior of dexamethasone-loaded cochlear implants: In vitro & in vivo.

The aim of this study was to better understand the long term behavior of silicone-based cochlear implants loaded with dexamethasone: in vitro as well as in vivo (gerbils). This type of local controlled drug delivery systems offers an interesting potential for the treatment of hearing loss. Because very long release periods are targeted (several years/decades), product optimization is highly challenging.

Dexamethasone-loaded cochlear implants: How to provide a desired "burst release".

Cochlear implants containing iridium platinum electrodes are used to transmit electrical signals into the inner ear of patients suffering from severe or profound deafness without valuable benefit from conventional hearing aids. However, their placement is invasive and can cause trauma as well as local inflammation, harming remaining hair cells or other inner ear cells. As foreign bodies, the implants also induce fibrosis, resulting in a less efficient conduction of the electrical signals and, thus, potentially decreased system performance.