Chemotherapy-induced hearing loss: the applications of bio-nanotechnologies and bile acid-based delivery matrices

Area of Science:

• Ototoxicity research
• Nanomedicine
• Drug delivery systems

Background:

• Chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, causes hearing loss by increasing reactive oxygen species in the inner ear.
• Damage to inner ear sensory hair cells by reactive oxygen species leads to irreversible hearing impairment.
• Exogenous antioxidants like probucol and metformin can inhibit reactive oxygen species formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate novel nano-based delivery matrices for preventing chemotherapy-induced hearing loss.
• To explore the efficacy of microencapsulation for delivering antioxidants to the inner ear.
• To assess the use of probucol and metformin in combination with drug excipients for inner ear delivery.

Main Methods:

• Development of nano-based delivery matrices.
• Microencapsulation of antioxidants (probucol and metformin) with drug excipients.
• Targeted delivery to inner ear regions affected by chemotherapy.

Main Results:

• Nano-delivery matrices effectively target inner ear regions susceptible to chemotherapy damage.
• Microencapsulation facilitates the delivery of antioxidants at effective concentrations.
• Potential to prevent reactive oxygen species formation and subsequent hair cell damage.

Conclusions:

• Novel nano-based delivery systems offer a promising strategy for preventing chemotherapy-induced hearing loss.
• Microencapsulation of probucol and metformin is a viable method for targeted inner ear drug delivery.
• This approach could mitigate irreversible hearing impairment caused by ototoxic chemotherapy agents.