2024 | Yangnan Hu, Jiayue Xing, Hui Zhang, Xinyi Pang, Yabo Zhai, Hong Cheng, Dongyu Xu, Menghui Liao, Yanru Qi, Danqi Wu, Bin Zhang, Lin Cheng, Bo Chu, Chen Zhang, Yuanjin Zhao, and Renjie Chai
The paper presents a novel cochlea-on-a-chip platform that integrates cochlear organoids, conductive hydrogels, and electroacoustic stimulation (EAS) from cochlear implants. This platform aims to simulate the complex physiological functions of the inner ear and facilitate high-throughput drug screening for hearing loss treatments. The conductive hydrogel, composed of polypyrrole-polydopamine (PPY-PDA) and Matrigel, enhances cell viability and electrical signaling, promoting the spontaneous formation of cochlear organoids with mature hair cells. The platform is integrated into a microfluidic chip with culture chambers and a concentration gradient generator, enabling dynamic and high-throughput evaluation of drugs related to inner ear diseases. The study demonstrates the platform's effectiveness in screening drugs that protect cochlear organoids from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, showing its potential as a valuable tool for organoid cultivation and drug evaluation in deafness research.The paper presents a novel cochlea-on-a-chip platform that integrates cochlear organoids, conductive hydrogels, and electroacoustic stimulation (EAS) from cochlear implants. This platform aims to simulate the complex physiological functions of the inner ear and facilitate high-throughput drug screening for hearing loss treatments. The conductive hydrogel, composed of polypyrrole-polydopamine (PPY-PDA) and Matrigel, enhances cell viability and electrical signaling, promoting the spontaneous formation of cochlear organoids with mature hair cells. The platform is integrated into a microfluidic chip with culture chambers and a concentration gradient generator, enabling dynamic and high-throughput evaluation of drugs related to inner ear diseases. The study demonstrates the platform's effectiveness in screening drugs that protect cochlear organoids from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, showing its potential as a valuable tool for organoid cultivation and drug evaluation in deafness research.