Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWSDespite the large number of people affected, there is currently no approved medication for acute or chronic hearing impairment. The standard treatment therefore consists of high-dose cortisone preparations. If this does not produce the desired results, an injection into the middle ear is often administered, although only a small proportion of the active ingredient reaches its target location in the inner ear. This is where the “CoDeM3D” project comes in: The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle (Saale) is working with partners to develop a small, biodegradable drug depot from a 3D printer for the minimally invasive treatment of inner ear diseases.
Hearing loss is a global health problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 1.57 billion adults and 97.83 million children worldwide are affected. In Germany, around 13.4 million adults and 83,000 children live with hearing loss. The elderly population is particularly affected: more than a third of people over the age of 65 suffer from impaired hearing. The most common cause of permanent hearing damage is sensorineural hearing loss. This occurs when sensitive structures in the inner ear are affected by aging processes, loud noise, certain medications, or genetic predisposition. However, the exact cause often remains unclear. Many of those affected also suffer from ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or dizziness. Despite the high number of people impaired, there is currently no approved medication that can reliably treat acute or chronic hearing loss.
The current standard of treatment usually consists of high-dose cortisone preparations, which are administered in tablet form or by infusion. If this therapy is not sufficiently effective, the drug is injected directly into the middle ear. From there, it is supposed to pass through a fine membrane, the so-called round window, into the inner ear. In practice, however, often only a very small amount of the active ingredient reaches its actual destination. This necessitates high doses, which can be associated with side effects. In addition, the natural barrier function of the round window or individual anatomical features can significantly restrict the passage of the drug into the inner ear.
Within the project “CoDeM3D” the Fraunhofer IMWS is working together with the Medical Faculty of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the companies Silber Anlagentechnik, NanoFract GmbH, and NH DyeAGNOSTICS GmbH to develop a very small, biodegradable drug carrier from a 3D printer that can be used in a minimally invasive manner. The aim is to develop an implant that controls the active ingredient and releases it directly into the inner ear over a longer period of time. This could significantly reduce the amount of active ingredient required, minimize systemic side effects, and also make the use of cost-intensive drugs more efficient.
The work at Fraunhofer IMWS focuses on the materials science evaluation of the system. In particular, this involves the development and investigation of suitable printing materials, which should consist of medically approved or biodegradable raw materials. In addition, a suitable carrier matrix is being developed with which selected active ingredients can be introduced into the system and released in a targeted manner. Subsequent tests will demonstrate that the system is both structurally stable and functions as intended.
Of particular importance is the fact that this technology could also be used to transport modern active ingredients such as gene therapeutics, proteins, or antibodies into the inner ear. This opens up new possibilities for personalized therapies and could, in the long term, partially replace the use of hearing aids. The system can be implanted as part of a standard middle ear operation and can be easily integrated into existing clinical procedures.
(March 17, 2026)