Advancements in the studies of novel nanomaterials for inner ear drug delivery

Hearing loss is currently one of the most prevalent sensory disorders worldwide. Because both the blood-labyrinth barrier and the limited blood circulation in the inner ear restrain the effective delivery of most drugs to the inner ear tissues, current treatments for hearing loss are limited to mainly medication, hearing devices and cochlear surgery for therapeutic purposes, whereas treatments lack a noninvasive targeted drug-delivery system. With the continuously rapid development of new nanomaterials, the nanodelivery systems are expected to provide a potentially effective method of clinical treatment for hearing loss. This paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of the commonly used drug-delivery methods and novel nanomaterials for inner ears as well as advancements in the targeted treatment of hearing loss.

Automated summary

Due to the limitations of the blood-labyrinth barrier and limited blood circulation in the inner ear, current treatments for hearing loss are mainly limited to medication, hearing devices, and surgery, lacking a noninvasive targeted drug-delivery system. With the development of new nanomaterials, nanodelivery systems offer potential effective methods for clinical treatment of hearing loss.