New injectable gel shows promise as voice loss treatment

McGill University researchers have engineered a new hydrogel that shows early promise as a treatment for people with vocal cord injuries.

Voice loss is often permanent when scarring forms on the vocal cords. Current injectable treatments break down quickly, which can force patients to get repeated procedures that can further damage the delicate tissue.

In a preclinical study published in the journal Biomaterials, the scientists report that their new gel resisted breakdown for weeks in lab and animal tests, outlasting current injectable materials and giving vocal cords a better chance to heal.

The gel is made from natural tissue proteins processed into a powder and converted into a gel. To make it last longer, the team used a process called click chemistry.

“This process is what makes our approach unique,” said co-senior author Maryam Tabrizian, professor in McGill’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Nanomedicine and Regenerative Medicine.

It acts like a molecular glue, locking the material together so it doesn’t fall apart too quickly once injected.”

Causes and prevalence of voice loss

Vocal cord injuries are especially common among older adults who have acid reflux or who smoke, and people who use their voices professionally, such as singers, teachers and radio hosts.

Roughly one in 13 adults experiences a voice disorder each year, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Senior author Nicole Li-Jessen, a clinician-scientist as well as a pianist who works with singers, has seen first-hand how devastating voice loss can be for performers.

“People take their voices for granted but losing it can deeply affect mental health and quality of life, especially for those whose livelihoods depend on it,” said Li-Jessen, associate professor in McGill’s School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Personalized Medicine of Upper Airway Health and Diseases.

Next steps

The researchers are now looking to test the gel in computer simulations that mimic how it behaves in the body. Once those results are validated, they hope to move toward human trials. If successful, the work could pave the way for a minimally invasive, longer-lasting treatment for voice loss.