Adele Moatti, PhD

Our ability to hear shapes our daily experiences, connecting us to the world and enriching our sensory perception. The profound impact of hearing loss extends beyond mere auditory impairment, affecting cognitive health, self-identity, and confidence to thrive in one's environment. Recent research efforts have intensified, focusing on preventive and restorative treatment methods to address this pervasive public health issue focusing specifically on the hair cells of the cochlea. The imminent revolution in hearing loss treatment holds great promise, providing a long-awaited disruption to the therapeutic landscape. However, alongside drug formulation, is the development of an appropriate drug delivery system. Determining the most effective and safe means of transporting medication while prioritizing patient comfort is a significant challenge. Unlike conventional delivery methods for flu shots or cough syrup, inner ear drug delivery demands a nuanced approach.

The primary challenge for systemic delivery to the inner ear is achieving a therapeutic dose across the blood-labyrinth barrier without causing systemic side effects. Local administration routes, such as intratympanic and intracochlear methods, present alternatives that bypass blood-labyrinth barrier issues encountered with systemic administration. However, these local methods come with drawbacks, including temporary or permanent hearing loss or low efficiency.

Our lab addresses the significant challenges inherent in developing effective inner ear substance delivery systems. One key hurdle involves not knowing the exact drug formulation for which the delivery system is being designed, affecting drug bioavailability and biodistribution. Another obstacle lies in translating promising findings from preclinical studies, conducted on animal models, into applicable solutions for human patients. Synergistic collaborations between hearing healthcare professionals and scientists, along with technological innovations such as 3D imaging and nanotechnology, would pave the way for transformative advancements in inner ear drug delivery systems.

Current research projects:

1. Developing ex-vivo and in-vivo models of drug delivery in large animals such as pigs similar to humans.
2. Developing extracellular vesicles as efficacious and safe carriers to deliver therapy-related substances to the inner ear.
3. Identifying novel sensory receptors and channels of round window membrane that sense chemicals, investigating how receptors and channels regulate drug passage to the inner ear, and harnessing receptors and channels to improve inner ear drug delivery.
4. In vivo and ex-vivo 3D high-resolution imaging for inner ear visualization, metabolomics, inflammation, and drug biodistribution.
5. Evaluate promising regeneration therapy effects delivered safely in a clinically relevant animal model like pigs.
6. Nanomaterials and smart materials to improve drug delivery to the inner ear.

Publications