Study on development of underwater direct drug delivery to cochlea based on hydrodynamics

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09746
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Yamauchi Daisuke 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (70361102)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 本藏 陽平 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 非常勤講師 (20810146)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 内耳 / ドラッグデリバリー / 水中内視鏡 / 流体力学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the design and fabrication of a temporal bone model to examine the inner ear pressure during submerged inner ear perfusion using the temporal bone model. Three types of temporal bone models were created based on temporal bone model data created for 3D printing from the temporal bone DICOM data. It was found that the irrigation fluid can be seen through because it is printed with transparent resin, and that it is easy to recognize by using colored water. In addition, a micro-diameter pressure sensor was fabricated, and the temporal bone model inner ear cavity was perfused with a micro-syringe while varying the flow rate, and the inner ear pressure was measured with an ultra-fine pressure sensor. An increase in pressure was detected with increasing flow velocity.

Free Research Field

耳科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々はこれまでに、内耳のソフトサージェリーを目的とした水中内視鏡下耳科手術を提案している。水中下のドラッグデリバリーは内耳保護に有効と考えられるが、さらに標的への拡散性・効率性が高い方法の開発が必要である。本研究では、側頭骨内耳模型を自作して極細圧力センサを用いた内耳圧測定実験を行った。シリンジポンプを用いて内耳の内腔を灌流したところ、流速の増加に伴って圧力の上昇が検出された。本研究成果によって、流体力学に基づいた、より安全で効率性の高い直接的な蝸牛内ドラッグデリバリーが検証され、聴覚機能温存や内耳再生医療において広く利用されることが期待される。