An engineered ferritin nanocage co-delivery system for targeted hair cells protection and hearing loss attenuation

The study presents a ferritin-based nanocage (LR@Fn) as a novel co-delivery system for protecting hair cells and attenuating hearing loss. This system effectively delivers small molecules RG108 and LLY283 directly to the inner ear, overcoming challenges like poor cellular uptake and off-target toxicity. In models of neonatal cisplatin and adult noise-induced hearing loss, LR@Fn demonstrated superior protection of hair cells, reduced synaptic damage, and decreased apoptosis compared to dexamethasone. The treatment also activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, contributing to its protective effects. LR@Fn shows promise as a biocompatible platform for targeted inner-ear therapy across various forms of hearing loss.