A new gel could help people get their voices back

Voice loss often becomes permanent when scar tissue forms on the vocal cords. Existing injectable materials tend to degrade quickly inside the body, which can require repeated injections. Each additional procedure can increase the risk of further injury to the already fragile tissue.

Longer-Lasting Results in Early Testing

In a preclinical study published in the journal Biomaterials, the research team found that the new gel remained intact for several weeks during laboratory and animal testing. This durability allowed the vocal cords more time to heal compared with currently available injectable treatments, which typically break down much faster.

The hydrogel is created from natural tissue proteins that are processed into a powder and then transformed into a gel. To strengthen the material and slow its breakdown, the scientists applied a technique known as 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."

Who Is Most Affected by Voice Loss

Vocal cord injuries are particularly common among older adults, especially those who experience acid reflux or smoke. People who rely heavily on their voices for work, including singers, teachers and radio hosts, also face a higher risk.

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

Senior author Nicole Li-Jessen, a clinician-scientist and pianist who works closely with singers, has seen the impact of voice loss up close.

"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.

What Comes Next

The research team plans to study the gel further using computer simulations designed to replicate how it behaves inside the human body. If those results confirm the early findings, the next step would be testing the material in human clinical trials. Success could lead to a minimally invasive treatment that lasts longer and reduces the need for repeat procedures.

About the Study

"Clicktetrazine dECM-alginate hydrogels for injectable, mechanically mimetic, and biologically active vocal fold biomaterials" by Mika Brown,Hideaki Okuyama, Ling Li, Zhen Yang, Jianyu Li, Maryam Tabrizian and Nicole Li-Jessen was published in Biomaterials.

The research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Canada Research Chair research stipends.