AUTHOR=Fang Qiaojun , Wei Yongjie , Zhang Yuhua , Cao Wei , Yan Lin , Kong Mengdie , Zhu Yongjun , Xu Yan , Guo Lingna , Zhang Lei , Wang Weiqing , Yu Yafeng , Sun Jingwu , Yang Jianming TITLE=Stem cells as potential therapeutics for hearing loss JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience VOLUME=17 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1259889 DOI=10.3389/fnins.2023.1259889 ISSN=1662-453X ABSTRACT=

Hearing impairment is a global health problem. Stem cell therapy has become a cutting-edge approach to tissue regeneration. In this review, the recent advances in stem cell therapy for hearing loss have been discussed. Nanomaterials can modulate the stem cell microenvironment to augment the therapeutic effects further. The potential of combining nanomaterials with stem cells for repairing and regenerating damaged inner ear hair cells (HCs) and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) has also been discussed. Stem cell-derived exosomes can contribute to the repair and regeneration of damaged tissue, and the research progress on exosome-based hearing loss treatment has been summarized as well. Despite stem cell therapy’s technical and practical limitations, the findings reported so far are promising and warrant further investigation for eventual clinical translation.