DESMA9 U8- Emilie Wouters

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U8: NanoTech + Art

    In the article, Art in the Age of Nanotechnology, a project is mentioned that made me look into another idea. Boo Chapple has been trying to make an audio speaker out of bones using nanotechnology.

Bone speaker

    This made me think about the possibility of using this on the ossicles (ear bones) to help with hearing loss. I then looked into whether or not this idea was being studied, and came across something different. Scientists are looking into using nanotechnology to regenerate damaged stereocilia, which are the microscopic fibers in the cochlea that help convert pressure waves of audio into electrical signals.

Stereocilia

    A lot of hearing loss, especially old age hearing loss, is due to the loss or damage of these little hair-like fibers (sensorineural hearing loss). In a study on guinea pigs, they found that nanoparticles could deliver RNA that regenerates some of the hair cells.

Ossicles

    Between the possible reapplication of the bone speaker technology, and the regenerated hair cells, could it then be possible to greatly reduce both sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss? I think it’s something to think about as a possibility in the future. Music is an incredible art, and has been shown to have great impact, psychologically and physiologically. It would be great to allow more people to have access to this, on top of the obvious benefits of regaining hearing I’m sure I don’t have to mention.


References:

Stereocilia. https://flickr.com/photos/zeissmicro/6992501118 Image.


Ossicles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52ec8c1ae4b047ccc14d6f29/1490610776907-A9CTKPVRPGY38SHPMBBO/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kEnuXcamgPjvOOzf4pD4gSNZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyS1Hr4HO83UkhvZ8gAM6hiuFsC3c-SffNT37QejDssDfocI7zvCHJMavLjB4HzCmw/ossicles.jpg Image.

“John Curtin Gallery.” Art.Base, art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology#3. 

Hamers, Bob. “Nano in Your Ear! Nanotechnology and Hearing.” Sustainable Nano, 2 May 2018, sustainable-nano.com/2018/05/03/nanotechnology-and-hearing/. 

Olena, Abby. “RNA Injection Restores Hearing in Guinea Pigs.” The Scientist Magazine®, www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/rna-injection-restores-hearing-in-guinea-pigs-30855. 

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