Tuesday, August 19, 2025 8/19/2025

Real-Time Monitoring and Scavenging of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) toEnhance Cochlear Implantation Outcomes

Award Number: R21DC019438
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/30/2025

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Real-Time Monitoring and Scavenging of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) toEnhance Cochlear Implantation Outcomes - Project Summary Hearing loss is the third most common health condition, affecting people of all ages. For individuals who are deaf or have significant hearing loss, cochlear implants (CIs) are a standard treatment. CIs restore hearing by electrically stimulating residual viable auditory nerve fibers in the cochlea with an implanted electrode array. However, cochlear implantation is always accompanied by surgical injury, which initiates an acute inflammatory response to the electrode and induces on-set and progressive loss of residual acoustic hearing. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop a real-time monitoring method to help understand the neural conditions during and after implantation and subsequent hearing loss to enhance post-operative clinical outcomes. Inflammatory process induces oxidative stress (i.e. an elevated intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS)) and reduces cellular antioxidant capacity. Numerous studies have shown that oxidative stress plays key roles for chronic neuroinflammation. Therefore, we hypothesize that oxidative stress is the major factor compromising CIs’ clinical outcome. In this R21 project, we propose to develop novel multifunctional CI electrodes and methods that can simultaneously monitor and scavenge initiation of the oxidative stress pathway during and after cochlear implantation. We will develop the multifunctional CIs to achieve real-time in vivo sensing and scavenging of ROS with clinically required sensitivity and specificity. Our approach to develop advanced multifunctional CIs is to utilize the unique palladium (Pd) and Pd bimetallic (i.e. Pd/Au) nanoparticles that show enzyme-like activities allowing sensitive and selective sensing of ROS as well as converting ROS to neutral molecules. In contrast to existing surface technologies for auditory neuronal protection and regeneration, our noble metal nanocatalysts as CIs electrodes are corrosion-resistant and biocompatible, and their unique surface electrochemistry can provide continuous (during and post-operative times) sensing and removal of ROS in vivo with high stability. The simultaneous neutralization of ROS with their electrochemical sensing reactions should mitigate oxidative stress-related cell death without disrupting the well- integrated innate antioxidant defense network, thus, improving post-operative clinical outcomes for individuals with CIs. In Aim 1, we will design and fabricate multifunctional CIs with bimetallic Pd/Au nanocatalysts integrated into a flexible parylene-based electrode array for detecting and scavenging ROS in vitro. In Aim 2, we will validate the detection and scavenging functions of the multifunctional CIs with an integrated microchannel in a rat model. Results from these pre-clinical development and validation studies in this R21 project will form the basis of a long-term R01 project to fully integrate sensing/scavenging capability into CI devices that are capable of recording, stimulation, sensing and scavenging functions for long-term clinical use. We also foresee the opportunities to apply the results gained here to other neural interfaces and medical implants. Our established multidisciplinary team with each member has more than 20 years’ experience with in vivo neuroprobe, real-time chemical sensor technology, and auditory neurophysiology respectively, making us well prepared to be successful in the proposed research activities.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SYSTEM	121 UNIVERSITY HALL	COLUMBIA	MO	65211	BOONE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	2/20/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$64,924
2025	2022	OAKLAND UNIVERSITY	2200 N SQUIRREL RD	ROCHESTER	MI	48309	OAKLAND	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	2/20/2025	NEW	-$64,924
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $26,282 )
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SYSTEM	121 UNIVERSITY HALL	COLUMBIA	MO	65211	BOONE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	3	8/28/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$12,642
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SYSTEM	121 UNIVERSITY HALL	COLUMBIA	MO	65211	BOONE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	8/6/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$203,101
2024	2023	OAKLAND UNIVERSITY	2200 N SQUIRREL RD	ROCHESTER	MI	48309	OAKLAND	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	8/5/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$189,461
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SYSTEM	121 UNIVERSITY HALL	COLUMBIA	MO	65211	BOONE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	003	3	9/9/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
														Subtotal = $26,282

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $189,461 )
2023	2023	OAKLAND UNIVERSITY	2200 N SQUIRREL RD	ROCHESTER	MI	48309	OAKLAND	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	1/12/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$18,945
2023	2023	OAKLAND UNIVERSITY	2200 N SQUIRREL RD	ROCHESTER	MI	48309	OAKLAND	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	10/31/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$170,516
														Subtotal = $189,461

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $230,504 )
2022	2022	OAKLAND UNIVERSITY	2200 N SQUIRREL RD	ROCHESTER	MI	48309	OAKLAND	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	10/26/2021	NEW	$230,504
														Subtotal = $230,504

Grand Total All Awards = $446,247

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Real-Time Monitoring and Scavenging of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) toEnhance Cochlear Implantation Outcomes

Award Number: R21DC019438

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/30/2025

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