{
  "abstract": "The inflammatory foreign body response that follows cochlear implantation produces intracochlear fibrosis, neo-ossification, and elevated electrode impedances that can compromise implant performance. Dexamethasone-eluting cochlear implants reduce this response, but the durability of their anti-inflammatory effect over long implantation intervals has not been established. Using a murine model of chronic cochlear implantation in CX3CR1+/eGFP Thy1+/eYFP dual-reporter mice, we compared dexamethasone-eluting and standard mouse cochlear implants at 224 and 336 days post-implantation. Density of CX3CR1+ macrophages, MHCII+CX3CR1+ antigen-presenting macrophages, -SMA+ fibrosis, and neo-ossification were quantified in the scala tympani, Rosenthal canal, and lateral wall of the basal turn. Standard implants produced persistent macrophage and antigen-presenting macrophage infiltration, accompanied by an -SMA+ fibrotic response and neo-ossification. Dexamethasone-eluting implants suppressed macrophage infiltration in all three regions out to 336 days and reduced fibrosis at 224 days. In the subset of cochleae with electrode array translocation, dexamethasone-eluting implants attenuated macrophage infiltration and confined the fibrotic and osseous response to the site of translocation, whereas standard implants produced a widespread response. A reduction in immune cell density was also observed in the contralateral, unimplanted cochleae of animals implanted with dexamethasone-eluting implants, suggesting a wider component to the drug's effect. Dexamethasone-eluting cochlear implants therefore provide sustained, long-term suppression of the cochlear foreign body response in mice, supporting their continued translation toward clinical application. This effect was associated with continued low-level dexamethasone elution out to 336 days post-implantation; further work is needed to assess the durability of this effect at the conclusion of drug elution.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Iowa"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "A. Alluri"
    },
    {
      "name": "B. Hunger"
    },
    {
      "name": "m. F. Hossain"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. M. Fatima"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. T. Rahman"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. Gay"
    },
    {
      "name": "B. J. Mostaert"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. L. Enke"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. R. Hansen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "A. D. Claussen"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4f34vwa6kk3wk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.08.26.747195",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.26.747195v1.full",
  "id": "4f34vwa6kk3wk",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.26.747195v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "neuroscience"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2805|Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204862774",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.26.747195v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-26",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4f34vwa6kk3wk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:08Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.08.26.747195",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.26.747195v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Long-term mitigation of the foreign-body response with dexamethasone-eluting cochlear implants in mice",
  "title_text": "Long-term mitigation of the foreign-body response with dexamethasone-eluting cochlear implants in mice",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:08Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4f34vwa6kk3wk",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}