# Designing non-toxic hydrogels for trans-tympanic drug delivery and treatment of otitis media

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2021 · $161,080

## Abstract

The goal of this proposal is to develop a non-toxic hydrogel to achieve trans-tympanic delivery
of therapeutics to treat otitis media (OM). This platform will non-invasively deliver therapeutics
across the tympanic membrane to eradicate bacterial infections and curb antimicrobial resistance,
while avoiding side effects caused by systemic antibiotic exposure. This proposal builds on our
previous work that demonstrated successful eradication of OM through a polymeric hydrogel, by
now employing solely biocompatible polymer chemistries (e.g. ones that have obtained approval
from the FDA for topical, oral, or intravenous delivery) with safe degradation products. By using
these chemistries, we aim to accelerate downstream clinical translation. The project addresses
the NIDCD mission by focusing on OM, a key pillar within the Hearing and Balance Program, and
on developing new drug delivery systems to the middle ear to treat middle and inner ear diseases.
 In this project, we will apply our experience in functional material design, mechanics, and
nanotechnology to enable the successful development, and eventual deployment, of this new
treatment platform. The unique and wide-ranging methods utilized here range from fundamental
polymer physics, rheology and mechanics, and small angle scattering to ex vivo and in vivo testing
in a chinchilla model. The first aim focuses on reverse engineering the hydrogel structure based
on criteria developed from our previous results, to obtain the optimal structure and mechanical
properties for effective drug delivery and gel adhesion to the tympanic membrane. The impact of
the hydrogel structure and mechanical properties on the trans-tympanic flux, bio-compatibility,
and bio-degradation will be investigated for promising formulations in the second aim. The third
aim focuses on the best performing formulations, where in vitro studies will assess antimicrobial
effectiveness and cytotoxicity, and in vivo assessment in a chinchilla model will evaluate treatment
efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
 The project will contribute to the mission of NIDCD by providing new treatments that will lead
to better health for all, including the 95% of US children affected by acute OM. We will generate
new knowledge, both to help treat otitis media and to develop new drug delivery platforms, while
improving the delivery, quality, and effectiveness of care for everyone. In the short term, this
project will help accelerate downstream translation of research findings into clinical practice by
focusing on biocompatible polymer chemistries. In the longer term, this new drug delivery platform
has potential to reduce treatment side effects and antimicrobial resistance, while improving
treatment efficacy by removing barriers to patient compliance associated with oral therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10292765
- **Project number:** 1R21DC019184-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Michelle A Calabrese
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $161,080
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10292765

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10292765, Designing non-toxic hydrogels for trans-tympanic drug delivery and treatment of otitis media (1R21DC019184-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10292765. Licensed CC0.

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