Yeungnam University Professor Jongmoon Jang Develops 'Drug Implant' to Prevent Hearing Loss from Cochlear Implant Side Effects

A research team led by Professor Jongmoon Jang from the Department of Electronic Engineering at Yeungnam University (President Choi Oechul) has developed a "micro 3D drug implant" that can reduce inflammation and hearing loss following cochlear implant surgery. The results of this research were first published online in the international journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical (IF 7.7, ranked in the top 2% in the field of Instruments & Instrumentation), and are scheduled for official publication in the December 2025 issue.

Cochlear implants are virtually the only treatment that allows patients who have lost their hearing to perceive sound. However, there have been ongoing reports of additional hearing loss due to tissue damage and inflammation during the electrode insertion process. Existing drug therapies are effective for only one to two weeks at most, and require additional surgery to remove any remaining drug carriers, which is a significant limitation.

Professor Jongmoon Jang, Department of Electronic Engineering, Yeungnam University

The implant developed by Professor Jongmoon Jang's research team features an ultra-miniature structure, as thin as a strand of hair, allowing for easy insertion into the cochlea without causing strain. It can simultaneously deliver multiple drugs, including dexamethasone (DEX), antioxidants (NAC), and growth factors (GDNF). Notably, the implant steadily releases medication for approximately 30 days and then naturally decomposes within the body, eliminating any additional burden on the patient.

Animal testing, conducted in collaboration with Professor Jung Hoon Jang's team from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Ajou University, confirmed that applying this device significantly reduced post-surgical inflammation and preserved residual hearing. The device's ability to provide stable drug delivery during the first month after surgery-when acute inflammatory responses are most severe-demonstrates high clinical value.

This research was carried out as a joint effort with domestic and international researchers, including the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and Ajou University School of Medicine. The research team plans to expand their work to develop implantable drug delivery devices for various fields such as the central nervous system, ophthalmology, and orthopedics, using biodegradable materials and micro 3D printing technology.

Professor Jongmoon Jang of the Department of Electronic Engineering at Yeungnam University stated, "This research will not only improve the quality of life for cochlear implant patients but also serve as an important stepping stone to lead the next-generation precision medical device market. We will continue to play a leading role in the development of personalized drug therapies and patient-specific medical devices."

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea's Korea-Switzerland Joint Research Program, the Regional Innovation Leading Research Center Program, the STEAM Research Program, the Special Zone Innovation Growth Scale-Up Project, and research funding from Yeungnam University.