Advances and prospects of 3D air-liquid interface cultured middle ear epithelial cells and inner ear organoids in otologic diseases

Hearing loss and vestibular disorders represent major otologic disease challenges. Traditional disease models struggle to accurately mimic human otologic pathologies due to species differences and limited physiological relevance. Recent advancements in otic vitro models have provided crucial tools for related research....

Continue reading at PubMed →

No actionable change — this is a laboratory research review with no immediate clinical application; findings are relevant to researchers developing disease models and potential drug-testing platforms for ear conditions.

Advances in inner ear organoids and 3D middle ear models could dramatically accelerate drug discovery and personalised medicine for hearing loss and otologic diseases over the coming decade.

1. 01Reviews state-of-the-art 3D air-liquid interface (ALI) models of middle ear epithelial cells and inner ear organoids.
2. 02These models replicate key features of ear tissue and can be used to study hearing loss, infection, and vestibular disorders.
3. 03Organoid and ALI platforms may reduce reliance on animal models in otologic research.
4. 04Significant limitations remain: models do not yet fully recapitulate in vivo ear complexity.
5. 05Published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2026.1881504).

PMID

42781149

DOI

10.3389/fbioe.2026.1881504.

Journal

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Publication type

review

Evidence level

5

Population

Laboratory cell and organoid models of middle and inner ear tissue

Intervention

3D air-liquid interface cultured middle ear epithelial cells and inner ear organoids