Mesoporous silica nanoparticle-modified electrode arrays of cochlear implants for delivery of siRNA-TGF81 into the inner ear

作者：Chen, Anning; Chen, Yaoheng; Liu, Shixin; Ma, Dong^*; Tang, Jie^*; Zhang, Hongzheng^*

来源：Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces , 2022, 218: 112753.

DOI：10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112753

• Mesoporous silica nanoparticles
• Cochlear implants
• siRNA
• TGF81
• Gene therapy

Cochlear implants (CI) are widely used in patients to restore hearing function. Uncontrolled fibrosis in the cochleae induced by excess secretion of TGF81 seriously affects the effectiveness of CIs. siRNA is a potential therapeutic strategy to downregulate TGF81 specifically. However, treatment with siRNA in cochleae is difficult due to the poor penetration capability and instability of siRNA and the inaccessibility and vulnerability of cochleae. To address these challenges, we developed amino-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN-NH2)-modified electrode arrays to deliver siRNA-TGF81 into the inner ear. The shape, diameter, pore diameter, and zeta potential of MSN-NH2 were investigated. siRNA loading capability and protective effect of MSN-NH2 were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis assay. The cytotoxicity, cellular uptake assay, and TGF81 knockdown efficiency of MSN-NH2 were studied by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR, respectively. MSN-NH2-siTGF81 nanoparticles were absorbed into the electrode arrays and worked in the cochleae. MSN-NH2-siTGF81-modified CI electrode arrays may be an attractive therapeutic clinical intervention strategy to inhibit cochlear implantation fibrosis.

• 单位
  南方医科大学