Personalized and Precision Medicine Journal
Where Innovations Meets Personalized and Precision Medicine

Regenerative Biotechnology of the Auditory System: Recent Advances in Cell Therapy, Tissue Engineering, Gene Therapy, and Genome Editing Toward Personalized Medicine

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

Marzieh Alaei 1
Sogol Javaherian-nia 2
Roya Chabi 1

1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Zarghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zarghan, Iran.

2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/ppmj.2026.743582
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss ranks among the most common auditory disorders, arising mainly from injury to the cochlear sensory hair cells and their associated afferent neurons. Because the mammalian cochlea possesses only a minimal capacity for self-repair, achieving a definitive cure remains a persistent clinical obstacle. Recent advances in biotechnology, particularly in the fields of stem cell biology, tissue engineering, gene therapy, and genome editing, have opened new avenues for auditory system regeneration. This article surveys how hair cells differentiate at the molecular level, assesses the regenerative capabilities of different stem cell populations for repairing the inner ear, and reviews applications of newer tools such as RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing, viral and non-viral gene-delivery systems, inner-ear organoid models, and bioengineered scaffolds. Preclinical studies indicate that integrating stem cell–based therapies with advanced biotechnological approaches can enhance the structural and functional regeneration of the inner ear. Despite these promising findings, further research is required to improve the efficacy, safety, and clinical translation of these technologies before they can be widely implemented in therapeutic practice.

Keywords

Sensorineural hearing loss
Stem cells
Gene therapy
Regenerative medicine
Personalized and Precision Medicine Journal
Volume 11, Issue 42 - Serial Number 42
Original article
Summer 2026
Pages 11-23

  • Receive Date 26 May 2026
  • Revise Date 20 July 2026
  • Accept Date 08 August 2026

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