title: Nanomedicine strategies for drug delivery to the ear.
abstract: The highly compartmentalized anatomy of the ear aggravates drug delivery, which is used to combat hearing-related diseases. Novel nanosized drug vehicles are thought to overcome the limitations of classic approaches. In this article, we summarize the nanotechnology-based efforts involving nano-objects, such as liposomes, polymersomes, lipidic nanocapsules and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, as well as nanocoatings of implants to provide an efficient means for drug transfer in the ear. Modern strategies do not only enhance drug delivery efficiency, in the inner ear these vector systems also aim for specific uptake into hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. These novel peptide-mediated strategies for specific delivery are reviewed in this article. Finally, the biosafety of these vector systems is still an outstanding issue, since long-term application to the ear has not yet been assessed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian Oliver
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Pritz
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dudás
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rask-Andersen
authors.forename: Anneliese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schrott-Fischer
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Glueckert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003051:Cochlea / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004423:Ear; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*