Steady streaming as a method for drug delivery to the inner ear

Abstract The inner ear, or cochlea, is a fluid-filled organ housing the mechanosensitive hair cells. Sound stimulation relayed to cells through waves that propagate on elastic basilar membrane. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs from damage and cannot currently be cured. Although drugs have been proposed prevent restore functionality cells, difficulty with such treatments ensuring adequate drug delivery Because cochlea encased in temporal bone, it can only accessed its basal end. However, are responsible for detecting speech-frequency sounds reside at opposite, apical In this paper we show steady streaming used transport along cochlea. Steady nonlinear process accompanies many fluctuating fluid motions, including sound-evoked ear. We combine an analytical approximation computational dynamic simulations demonstrate combined effects of several different frequencies base further towards apex. Our results therefore multi-frequency sound serve as non-invasive method efficiently