Otologic nanotechnology

Abstract

Diagnosing or treating a human ear includes transporting a conjugated nanoparticle or a magnetically responsive nanoparticle into a human's middle or inner ear. Otologic nanophoresis includes electrically, magnetically or electromagnetically driving a nanoparticle through a membrane of the ear, including a tympanic membrane, a round window membrane, an oval window membrane, or a circulatory membrane. An otologic diagnostic device includes a nanoparticle conjugated with a material selected from the group consisting of lipids, proteins, growth factors, growth hormones, antioxidants, free radical scavengers, steroid preparations, and metabolically active substances; an otologic therapeutic device includes the same categories of substances and chemotherapeutic drugs. Another otologic composition includes a nanoparticle conjugated with a substance perceptible to magnetic resonance imaging.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of diagnosing or treating a human ear, comprising transporting a conjugated nanoparticle into a middle or inner ear of a human.  
     
     
         2 . A method of diagnosing or treating a human ear, comprising transporting a magnetically responsive nanoparticle into a middle or inner ear of a human.  
     
     
         3 . Otologic nanophoresis, comprising electrically driving a nanoparticle through a membrane of a human ear.  
     
     
         4 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the membrane includes a tympanic membrane of the human ear.  
     
     
         5 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the membrane includes a round window membrane of the human ear.  
     
     
         6 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the membrane includes an oval window membrane of the human ear.  
     
     
         7 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the membrane includes a circulatry membrane in the human ear.  
     
     
         8 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the membrane includes a membranous element of a malignant or non-malignant tumor in the human ear.  
     
     
         9 . Otologic nanophoresis, comprising magnetically driving a nanoparticle through a membrane of a human ear.  
     
     
         10 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the membrane includes a tympanic membrane of the human ear.  
     
     
         11 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the membrane includes a round window membrane of the human ear.  
     
     
         12 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the membrane includes an oval window membrane of the human ear.  
     
     
         13 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the membrane includes a circulatory membrane in the human ear.  
     
     
         14 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the membrane includes a membranous element of a malignant or non-malignant tumor in the human ear.  
     
     
         15 . Otologic nanophoresis, comprising electromagnetically driving a nanoparticle through a membrane of a human ear.  
     
     
         16 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the membrane includes a tympanic membrane of the human ear.  
     
     
         17 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the membrane includes a round window membrane of the human ear.  
     
     
         18 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the membrane includes an oval window membrane of the human ear.  
     
     
         19 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the membrane includes a circulatory membrane in the human ear.  
     
     
         20 . Otologic nanophoresis as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the membrane includes a membranous element of a malignant or non-malignant tumor in the human ear.  
     
     
         21 . An otologic diagnostic device, comprising a nanoparticle conjugated with a material selected from the group consisting of lipids, proteins, growth factors, growth hormones, antioxidants, free radical scavengers, steroid preparations, and metabolically active substances.  
     
     
         22 . An otologic therapeutic device, comprising a nanoparticle conjugated with a material selected from the group consisting of lipids, proteins, growth factors, growth hormones, antioxidants, free radical scavengers, steroid preparations, metabolically active substances, and chemotherapeutic drugs.  
     
     
         23 . An otologic growth composition, comprising a nanoparticle conjugated with at least a growth factor or a growth hormone.  
     
     
         24 . A protective composition for cochlear and vestibular neuroelements, comprising a nanoparticle conjugated with at least one of an antioxidant and a free radical scavenger.  
     
     
         25 . An otologic composition, comprising a nanoparticle conjugated with protein that binds with pathological tissue in a human ear.  
     
     
         26 . An otologic composition as defined in  claim 25 , further comprising a therapeutic substance conjugated with the nanoparticle for treating pathological tissue to which the protein binds.  
     
     
         27 . An otologic marker, comprising a nanoparticle conjugated with a substance perceptible to magnetic resonance imaging.