Development of a Thermosensitive Hydrogel Containing Liposomes for Sustained Dexamethasone Delivery in Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Gauthy, Chloé; Cole, Nicholas; Spahic, Enes; Closset, Raphaël; Hendrickx, Erika; Conrard, Louise; Bodadi, Yasmina; Magdalena Segura, Hugo; Tallandier, Valentin; Van Lerberghe, Pierre-Bernard; Collard, Laurence; Penoy, Noémie; Boschini, Frédéric; Evrard, Brigitte; Delacroix, Laurence; Malgrange, Brigitte; Piel, Géraldine

doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2026.126847

Article (Scientific journals)

Development of a Thermosensitive Hydrogel Containing Liposomes for Sustained Dexamethasone Delivery in Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Gauthy, Chloé; Cole, Nicholas; Spahic, Enes et al.

2026 • In International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 697, p. 126847

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/342776

DOI
10.1016/j.ijpharm.2026.126847

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Keywords :

cochlea; deafness; liposomes; transtympanic

Abstract :

[en] Dexamethasone-loaded liposomes composed of DSPC/Chol/PEG (85/10/5 mol%) and dispersed in a 16.25% Poloxamer 407 (P407) hydrogel were developed as a local therapeutic strategy for sound trauma-induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Physicochemical and rheological characterization demonstrated that the formulation remains injectable at room temperature and undergoes rapid in situ gelation within 8.0 ± 3.8 minutes in the middle ear cavity at 37°C. Incorporation of liposomes into the 16.25% P407 hydrogel significantly prolonged the in vitro release of encapsulated dexamethasone compared to the free drug solution. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) revealed multilamellar and multivesicular liposomal vesicles, consistent with sustained release behavior. The formulation was well tolerated by HEI-OC1 cells and cochlear explants and conferred a significant otoprotective effect, as evidenced by preservation of synaptic surface area following kainic acid-induced excitotoxic injury.

Research Center/Unit :

GIGA Neurosciences - Developmental Neurobiology - ULiège
CIRM - Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur le Médicament - ULiège

Disciplines :

Otolaryngology
Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology
Pharmacy, pharmacology & toxicology

Author, co-author :

Gauthy, Chloé ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Unités de recherche interfacultaires > Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur le Médicament (CIRM)

Cole, Nicholas ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Neurologie

Spahic, Enes ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA > GIGA Neurosciences - Developmental Neurobiology

Closset, Raphaël ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences)

Hendrickx, Erika ; ULB - Université Libre de Bruxelles > Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI)

Conrard, Louise ; ULB - Université Libre de Bruxelles > Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI)

Bodadi, Yasmina

Magdalena Segura, Hugo

Tallandier, Valentin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA > GIGA Neurosciences

Van Lerberghe, Pierre-Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques

More authors (7 more)

^✱ These authors have contributed equally to this work.

Language :

English

Title :

Development of a Thermosensitive Hydrogel Containing Liposomes for Sustained Dexamethasone Delivery in Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Publication date :

20 May 2026

Journal title :

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

ISSN :

0378-5173

eISSN :

1873-3476

Publisher :

Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Volume :

697

Pages :

126847

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

Région wallonne

Commentary :

Article publié : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2026.126847
Pre-print : https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6222330

Available on ORBi :

since 16 March 2026

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