Intranasal BDNF Delivery for Non-Invasive Inner Ear Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for sensorineural hearing loss, particularly cochlear implants, are invasive and lack effective pharmacological therapies, and the delivery of BDNF to the inner ear is hindered by protective barriers, necessitating surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

Intranasal administration of BDNF, formulated with excipients, to achieve effective concentrations in the inner ear for the prevention or treatment of sensorineural hearing loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If BDNF is delivered to the inner ear using current methods (intratympanic injection or osmotic minipump), then effective treatment of sensorineural hearing loss is achieved, but invasive surgical procedures are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of BDNF deliveryVSAvoidinvasiveness of administration procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb as intermediary structures to deliver BDNF from the nasal cavity to the inner ear. The intranasal administration uses the olfactory mucosa as a gateway, allowing BDNF to traverse through the olfactory nerve pathway and reach the cochlea without direct surgical intervention in the ear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical surgical approaches (needle injection through tympanic membrane or surgical implantation of osmotic pumps) with a non-invasive nasal administration system. This substitution eliminates the need for surgical instruments and procedures while achieving equivalent drug delivery to the inner ear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the blood labyrinth barrier is present to protect the inner ear, then the inner ear is protected from harmful substances, but systemic delivery of BDNF is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of inner earVSAvoiddelivery route flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the delivery pathway into distinct anatomical regions: nasal cavity, olfactory epithelium, olfactory bulb, and cochlea. By utilizing the olfactory pathway as a separate route that bypasses the blood labyrinth barrier, the system delivers BDNF directly to the inner ear without needing to cross the protective blood barrier through systemic circulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If intratympanic injection is used to achieve greater drug concentrations in the middle ear, then BDNF delivery to the inner ear is improved, but risk of permanent tympanic membrane perforation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug concentration in middle earVSAvoidrisk of tympanic membrane damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the olfactory epithelium and olfactory nerve pathway as intermediary structures to deliver BDNF from the nasal cavity to the cochlea. This route completely bypasses the middle ear and tympanic membrane, eliminating the risk of perforation while still achieving effective drug concentrations in the inner ear through the alternative olfactory pathway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Non-invasive intranasal delivery of BDNF effectively targets the inner ear, demonstrating significant recovery of auditory function in animal models of hearing loss.

Implementation Method 1

BDNF binds to its high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptor TrkB

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReceptor binding:

Implementation Method 2

activation of signal transduction pathways

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal transduction:

Implementation Method 3

administration in the form of nasal drops or nasal spray

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMucosal absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20260048006A1Intranasal administration of BDNF for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss

Publication Date: 2026.02.19 DOMPE FARMACEUTICI SPA

AI summary

The present invention relates to brain derived nerve factor (BDNF) for use in the prevention or treatment of sensorineural hearing loss in a subject, wherein said BDNF is administered intranasally to said subject.