Tracking the Spatiotemporal Journey of Chitosan Nanoparticles Across Ear Physiological Barriers: Mechanisms and Pathways

Effective drug delivery to the inner ear is severely limited by the restrictive nature of the round window membrane (RWM). In this study, coumarin-6 labeled chitosan nanoparticles were administered via intratympanic injection in guinea pigs to investigate their spatiotemporal transport across the RWM and entry into the inner ear. The nanoparticles exhibited prolonged residence on the RWM and efficient presence in the perilymph in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Mechanistic analyses demonstrated that nanoparticle transport occurred through coordinated paracellular and transcellular pathways. Transient modulation of tight junctions facilitated paracellular diffusion, while active transcellular transport involved multiple endocytic routes. Following cellular uptake, nanoparticles underwent intracellular trafficking and were released into the perilymph via Golgi-mediated exocytosis. Collectively, these findings reveal an in vivo, RWM-specific transport cascade characterized by coordinated paracellular tight-junction modulation, multiroute endocytic uptake, and Golgi-mediated exocytotic release into the perilymph, providing mechanistic insight into nanoparticle disposition in the inner ear and supporting their potential for local drug delivery. Significance statement This study defines an in vivo, RWM-specific transport cascade governing nanoparticle disposition in the inner ear. It demonstrates coordinated paracellular and transcellular transport enabling nanoparticle entry into the perilymph, advancing mechanistic insight into physiological barrier regulation of inner ear drug delivery and supporting rational design of nanocarrier-based otologic therapies.