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 for administering therapeutics to the inner ear comprising:
 inserting a microcatheter transtympanically into the middle ear, wherein a terminal end of the microcatheter is at a position immediately adjacent to a membrane separating the middle ear from the inner ear; 
 injecting a nanoparticle into the microcatheter, wherein the position of the terminal end of the microcatheter permits diffusion of the nanoparticle through said membrane into the inner ear, wherein the nanoparticle comprises one or more therapeutic agents and an agent to facilitate diffusion through said membrane. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said one or more therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant and a steroid. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the antioxidant is N-acetylcysteine. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  wherein the antioxidant is reduced glutathione. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2  wherein the steroid is dexamethasone. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the membrane is the round window membrane. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the membrane is the oval window. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent to facilitate diffusion through said membrane is lipophilic polymer. 
     
     
       9. A method for administering therapeutics to the inner ear comprising:
 inserting a microcatheter transtympanically into the middle ear, wherein a terminal end of the microcatheter is at a position immediately adjacent to a membrane separating the middle ear from the inner ear;   injecting a nanoparticle into the microcatheter, wherein the position of the terminal end of the microcatheter permits diffusion of the nanoparticle through said membrane into the inner ear, wherein the nanoparticle comprises one or more therapeutic agents.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a conjugated nanoparticle. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a magnetic carrier configured to respond to an externally directed magnetic field. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a water soluble polymer. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 9, wherein the nanoparticle comprises an uncharged hydrophilic polymer. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 9, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a micelle, and wherein the micelle comprises copolymers with hydrophilic shells and amino acids. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 9, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a dendrimer. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 9, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a substance perceptible to magnetic resonance imaging. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, wherein the substance perceptible to magnetic resonance imaging comprises gadolinium. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprises a growth factor or a growth hormone. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprises a chemotherapeutic agent. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprises an antibiotic. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprises an antioxidant. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprises a steroid. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 9, wherein the membrane comprises at least one of a round window membrane or an oval window membrane. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 9, wherein the membrane comprises a circulatory membrane. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 9, wherein the injecting the nanoparticle comprises injecting a fluid comprising the nanoparticle. 
     
     
       26. A method for delivering one or more therapeutic agents to the inner ear comprising:
 inserting a microcatheter transtympanically into the middle ear, wherein a terminal end of the microcatheter is at a position immediately adjacent to a membrane separating the middle ear from the inner ear;   using the microcatheter, delivering nanoparticles to the middle ear to permit their diffusion through the membrane into the inner ear, the nanoparticle comprising one or more therapeutic agents.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26 in which the nanoparticles are contained in a fluid. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 26 in which the nanoparticles include a label. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 26 in which the nanoparticles comprise an agent to facilitate diffusion through said membrane. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 26 in which the nanoparticles comprise water-soluble polymers, lipophilic polymers, micelles, dendrimers, uncharged hydrophilic polymer, or magnetic targeted carriers. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 26 in which the one or more therapeutic agents comprises one or more substances that promote hair cell regeneration. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 26 in which the one or more therapeutic agents comprises one or more antioxidants or free radical scavengers.