Probucol-bile acid nanoparticles: a novel approach and promising solution to prevent cellular oxidative stress in sensorineural hearing loss.

The use of antioxidants could thus prove an effective medication to prevent or facilitate recovery from oxidative stress-induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). One promising strategy to prevent SNHL is developing probucol (PB)-based nanoparticles using encapsulation technology and administering them to the inner ear via the established intratympanic route. The preclinical, clinical and epidemiological studies support that PB is a proven antioxidant that could effectively prevent oxidative stress in different study models. Such findings suggest its applicability in preventing oxidative stress within the inner ear and its associated neural cells. However, several hurdles, such as overcoming the blood-labyrinth barrier, ensuring sustained release, minimising systemic side effects and optimising targeted delivery in the intricate inner ear structures, must be overcome to efficiently deliver PB to the inner ear. This review explores the background and pathogenesis of hearing loss, the potential of PB in treating oxidative stress and its cellular mechanisms, and the obstacles linked to inner ear drug delivery for effectively introducing PB to the inner ear.