Localized delivery of therapeutics impact laryngeal mechanics, local inflammatory response, and respiratory microbiome following upper airway intubation injury in swine.

Background: Laryngeal injury associated with traumatic or prolonged intubation may lead to voice, swallow, and airway complications. The interplay between inflammation and microbial population shifts induced by intubation may relate to clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate laryngeal mechanics, tissue inflammatory response, and local microbiome changes with laryngotracheal injury and localized delivery of therapeutics via drug-eluting endotracheal tube.

Methods: A simulated traumatic intubation injury was created in Yorkshire crossbreed swine under direct laryngoscopy. Endotracheal tubes electrospun with roxadustat or valacyclovir- loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers were placed in the injured airway for 3, 7, or 14 days (n = 3 per group/time and ETT type). Vocal fold stiffness was then evaluated with normal indentation and laryngeal tissue sections were histologically examined. Immunohistochemistry and inflammatory marker profiling were conducted to evaluate the inflammatory response associated with injury and ETT placement. Additionally, ETT biofilm formation was visualized using scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography, while changes in the airway microbiome were profiled through 16S rRNA sequencing.

Results: Laryngeal tissue with roxadustat ETT placement had increasing localized stiffness outcomes over time and histological assessment indicated minimal epithelial ulceration and fibrosis, while inflammation remained severe across all timepoints. In contrast, vocal fold tissue with valacyclovir ETT placement showed no significant changes in stiffness over time; histological analysis presented a reduction in epithelial ulceration and inflammation scores along with increased fibrosis observed at 14 days. Immunohistochemistry revealed a decline in M1 and M2 macrophage markers over time for both ETT types. Among the cytokines, IL-8 levels differed significantly between the roxadustat and valacyclovir ETT groups, while no other cytokines showed statistically significant differences. Additionally, increased biofilm formation was observed in the coated ETTs with notable alterations in microbiota distinctive to each ETT type and across time.

Conclusion: The injured and intubated airway resulted in increased laryngeal stiffness. Local inflammation and the type of therapeutic administered impacted the bacterial composition within the upper respiratory microbiome, which in turn mediated local tissue healing and recovery.