Intratympanic administration of alpha-lipoic acid-loaded pluronic F-127 nanoparticles ameliorates acute hearing loss

Nanomedicine. 2021 Feb:32:102329. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2020.102329. Epub 2020 Nov 10.

Abstract

We used antioxidant-containing nanoparticles (NPs) to treat acute hearing loss. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) served as the antioxidant; we employed Pluronic F127 to fabricate NPs. In vitro, ALA-NPs protected cells of the organ of Corti in HEI-OC1 mice, triggering nuclear translocation of NRF2 and increases in the levels of antioxidant proteins, including Nrf2, HO-1, SOD-1, and SOD-2. In vivo, the hearing of mice that received ALA-NP injections into the middle ear cavity was better preserved after induction of ototoxicity than in control animals. The cochlear Nrf2 level increased in test mice, indicating that the ALA-NPs protected hearing via the antioxidant mechanism observed in vitro. ALA-NPs effectively protected against acute hearing loss by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Keywords: Antioxidant; Hearing loss; Intratympanic injection; Nanoparticle; Ototoxicity; alpha-Lipoic acid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hearing Loss / drug therapy*
  • Hearing Loss / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Poloxamer / chemistry*
  • Thioctic Acid / administration & dosage*
  • Thioctic Acid / pharmacology
  • Thioctic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Tympanic Membrane / pathology*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • Poloxamer
  • Thioctic Acid