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8018820 
Journal Article 
Review 
Inner ear drug delivery for auditory applications 
Swan, EE; Mescher, MJ; Sewell, WF; Tao, SL; Borenstein, JT 
2008 
Yes 
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
ISSN: 0169-409X 
60 
15 
1583-1599 
English 
18848590 
WOS:000261649800003 
Many inner ear disorders cannot be adequately treated by systemic drug delivery. A blood-cochlear barrier exists, similar physiologically to the blood-brain barrier, which limits the concentration and size of molecules able to leave the circulation and gain access to the cells of the inner ear. However, research in novel therapeutics and delivery systems has led to significant progress in the development of local methods of drug delivery to the inner ear. Intratympanic approaches, which deliver therapeutics to the middle ear, rely on permeation through tissue for access to the structures of the inner ear, whereas intracochlear methods are able to directly insert drugs into the inner ear. Innovative drug delivery systems to treat various inner ear ailments such as ototoxicity, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, autoimmune inner ear disease, and for preserving neurons and regenerating sensory cells are being explored.