Researchers at Kuban State Medical University have unveiled a biodegradable membrane crafted from natural polymers to aid eardrum repair. Anastasia Krysovataya, one of the project’s developers, shared details with socialbites.ca as the team presented the breakthrough at the Naukabiomed forum. The work highlights a potential shift in how ear injuries are treated and how healing can be guided in a more controlled way.
Trauma to the eardrum can lead to persistent perforations in about one in five patients, creating a hole or tear in the eardrum’s outer wall. Such injuries bring pain, persistent ear noises or ringing, and a decline in hearing quality. Traditionally, surgeons rely on grafts from the temporalis muscle fascia or the auricular tragus cartilage to close the perforation. Yet these procedures can be accompanied by a range of complications, and the need for additional surgery remains a concern in many cases, as explained by Krysovataya.
The newly developed hydrogel membrane is designed to cover the injured area with a protective layer while guiding connective tissue fibers through the membrane as they reform. This scaffolding approach aims to support tissue regeneration and restore the eardrum’s structure and function more effectively than current methods.
The membrane is reported to accelerate wound healing and reduce the invasiveness of myringoplasty. In addition, it could streamline the surgical workflow: surgeons would cut a tailored piece of the membrane and position it over the perforation, potentially avoiding further incisions to harvest an autograft. This could lower operative time and minimize trauma to the surrounding tissues, an advantage highlighted by the researchers.
Details about the membrane’s exact composition remain under patent protection, but the project team notes that sodium alginate serves as a primary component. This material has a long history of safe use in medical applications and has been studied extensively for its biocompatibility and performance in tissue support roles. The researchers emphasize that more data will come as studies expand and funding to support additional trials is secured. The team has already produced initial membrane samples and conducted early testing in animal models to refine the surgical technique and assess outcomes before moving toward broader investigations.
Earlier work by biophysicist Tagandurdyeva, summarized in a separate discussion on nerve repair, signals a continuing interest among KubSMU researchers in biomaterials that can aid healing across diverse tissues. The current focus remains on translating this membrane technology into a practical tool for ear surgeons, with the hope of improving patient results and expanding the options available for repairing eardrum perforations.