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Cochlear Mechanics Are Preserved After Inner Ear Delivery of Gold Nanoparticles
Dorothy W Pan1, Jinkyung Kim2,3, Patricia M Quiñones1
1Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|January 11, 2025
Summary
Posterior semicircular canal (PSCC) infusion successfully delivered gold nanoparticles to the inner ear without altering cochlear mechanics. This validates PSCC infusion as a safe method for inner ear therapeutic delivery.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Nanomedicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Inner ear disorders and hearing loss require novel therapeutic delivery systems.
- The inner ear's unique anatomy presents significant barriers to drug delivery.
- Nanoparticles offer potential for targeted therapeutic delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of posterior semicircular canal (PSCC) infusion for delivering gold nanoparticles (NPs) into the cochlea.
- To assess the distribution of NPs within the cochlea.
- To determine the effect of PSCC infusion on cochlear mechanics.
Main Methods:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to monitor the infusion process and NP distribution.
- OCT vibrometry measured sound-evoked basilar membrane movements to assess cochlear mechanics.
- Gold nanoparticles were infused into the perilymphatic space via PSCC canalostomy.
Main Results:
- OCT confirmed that PSCC infusion accurately targeted the perilymphatic spaces of the cochlea.
- No significant changes in cochlear mechanics were observed post-infusion.
- Basilar membrane movement remained unchanged at baseline, after canalostomy, and after NP infusion.
Conclusions:
- PSCC infusion is a validated method for delivering nanoparticle systems into the cochlear perilymphatic space.
- This technique shows promise for treating inner ear disorders.
- PSCC infusion preserves existing cochlear function, making it a potentially safe therapeutic approach.
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