METHOD OF PROVIDING AGENTS TO THE COCHLEA

1 . A method of transfecting cells with an agent by electroporation within a cochlea of a subject, the method comprising introducing a cochlear implant which comprises at least one electrode into the cochlea, providing the agent to the cochlea, and providing at least one second electrode, and then providing an electroporation electric field between the at least one electrode and the at least one second electrode and thereby transfecting cells with the agent.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent comprises a nucleic acid molecule.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a neurotrophic factor for spiral ganglion cells.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a transcription factor which modulates the expression of a neurotrophic factor for spiral ganglion cells by mesenchymal cells of the scala tympani.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule decreases the expression of a transcription factor within mesenchymal cells of the scala tympani or scala vestibuli, wherein the transcription factor modulates the expression of a neurotrophic factor for spiral ganglion cells by the mesenchymal cell.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the neurotrophic factor is selected from any one of Neurotrophin-3, Neurotrophin-3 precursor molecule, Neurotrophin 4/5, Nerve growth factor, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor and Activity dependent neurotrophic factor.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode or the cochlear implant which comprises at least one electrode is introduced into the scala tympani or the scala vestibuli of the cochlea.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cochlear implant comprises the at least one electrode and the second electrode.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent is provided to the cochlea before introducing the cochlear implant into the cochlea.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the agent to the cochlea substantially displaces the media lying within the cochlea chamber.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electroporation electrode of the cochlear implant and the at least one second electrode also act as auditory nerve stimulator electrodes.

13 . A cochlear implant, comprising:

electroporation-driving circuitry and auditory nerve stimulator circuitry such that the chochlear implant can generate both art electroporation mode electrical pulse profile or an auditory nerve stimulator electrical pulse profile, and

at least one electrode coupled to the electroporation-driving circuitry and auditory nerve stimulator circuitry for providing electroporation and auditory nerve stimulator electrical pulse profiles to the cochlea.

14 . The cochlear implant of claim 13 , wherein the implant comprises a lumen or channel for delivery of an agent to the cochlea.