Magnetic Mesoporous Nanoparticles Loaded with Lycium barbarum Glycopeptide for Targeted Therapy of Noise-Triggered Auditory Dysfunction

Hearing loss, primarily caused by the irreversible loss of cochlear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, represents a major clinical challenge. Due to factors such as the blood-labyrinth barrier and the unique structure of the cochlea, there is still a lack of an effective and sustainable targeted drug delivery system. The development of inner ear drug delivery systems capable of sustaining therapeutic concentrations with site-specific localization remains a critical challenge in otopharmacology. In this paper, we engineered a magnetically navigable platform utilizing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MMSNs) for precision-targeted cochlear drug administration. This system features a magnetic-responsive core and a permeable porous shell, combining the advantages of both nanomaterial carriers and Lycium barbarum glycopeptide (LbGP). The resultant MMSNs-LbGP nanocomposite exhibited good biocompatibility, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. In a guinea pig model of noise-induced hearing loss, MMSNs-LbGP treatment not only effectively restored auditory function and preserved cochlear hair cell structure but also significantly attenuated cochlear neuroinflammation and oxidative damage. This advancement establishes a novel framework for translational implementation of nanoparticle-mediated inner ear therapy, offering therapeutic solutions to rehabilitate or functionally augment auditory pathways in patients with sensorineural deficits.