Drug Delivery Method for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The ultimate goal of the proposed project is to evaluate and commercialize a combination of proprietary magnet assemblies and magnetic nanoparticles (initially developed by our University STTR partner), that has been shown in preliminary animal studies to improve delivery of medications to the inner ear. Initial animal studies using the system (which uses magnetic forces to inject steroid-eluting magnetic nano-particles into the inner ear) have successfully reduced the degree of hearing loss and tinnitus in rats due to acoustic trauma. These initial studies suggest that the amount of steroids reaching the inner ear is increased ten-fold (compared to the current standard of trans-tympanic injection into the middle ear), without side effects. Our strategy is to demonstrate the utility of the magnetic injection system as a platform technology addressing the 4 billion hearing market, starting with a compelling clinical problem that currently is without a cure. Sudden Sen