Magnetic Mesoporous Nanoparticles Loaded with <i>Lycium barbarum</i> Glycopeptide for Targeted Therapy of Noise‐Triggered Auditory Dysfunction

Abstract

ABSTRACT 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.