title: Drug delivery to the inner ear.
abstract: Bionic devices electrically activate neural populations to partially restore lost function. Of fundamental importance is the functional integrity of the targeted neurons. However, in many conditions the ongoing pathology can lead to continued neural degeneration and death that may compromise the effectiveness of the device and limit future strategies to improve performance. The use of drugs that can prevent nerve cell degeneration and promote their regeneration may improve clinical outcomes. In this paper we focus on strategies of delivering neuroprotective drugs to the auditory system in a way that is safe and clinically relevant for use in combination with a cochlear implant. The aim of this approach is to prevent neural degeneration and promote nerve regrowth in order to improve outcomes for cochlear implant recipients using techniques that can be translated to the clinic.
authors.affiliation: Bionics Institute, 384 Albert Street, East Melbourne 3002, Australia. awise@bionicsinstitute.org
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: Lisa N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Gillespie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001701:Bionics; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D007758:Ear, Inner; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000517:prevention & control; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents