# Trans-tympanic delivery of antibiotics

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $547,098

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
AOM is the most common reason for antimicrobial prescribing in US children, and due to the high prevalence
of disease and frequent recurrences is believed to be partially responsible for the ongoing increase in antibiotic
resistance among pathogenic bacteria. Local, sustained delivery of active therapeutics directly to the middle
ear for the treatment of OM could potentially allow for much higher middle ear drug concentrations than from
systemic administration, which could allow for a faster and more complete eradication of OM bacteria, while
minimizing systemic exposure and its adverse effects, particularly selection of drug-resistant bacteria. We have
recently described a hydrogel containing antibiotics and chemical permeation enhancers that was capable of
enhancing antibiotic flux across the tympanic membrane, to produce a sufficient flux of antibiotic across the
tympanic membrane (TM) from a single application to be able to treat OM. We have subsequently optimized
this formulation in terms of gelation properties and adherence to the eardrum, and shown efficacy in a model of
otitis media. We hypothesize that these formulations will also be able to prevent OM, and mitigate biofilm
formation in the middle ear. Here we propose a research plan that will help in translating that proof-of-concept
toward a clinical reality. Toward that end, we have assembled a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional
collaboration with a proven track record of working together.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9962894
- **Project number:** 5R01DC015050-05
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniel S Kohane
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $547,098
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-22 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9962894

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9962894, Trans-tympanic delivery of antibiotics (5R01DC015050-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9962894. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*