Mannose-coated nanozyme for relief from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain (CIPNP) is a progressive and disturbing peripheral neuropathy with currently no effective treatment. Aberrant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in macrophages near peripheral nerves plays a dominant role in CIPNP; however, traditional ROS scavengers have difficulty maintaining viability to target macrophages in vivo. Mannose-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (mSPIONs) were synthesized to treat CIPNP. The anti-ROS and anti-inflammatory effects of mSPIONs were assessed in J774A.1 cells and sciatic nerves in a nociception mouse model induced with vincristine (VCR). We found that the mSPIONs significantly reduced ROS levels in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, mSPIONs administration specifically reduced IL-6 and TNF-α levels in macrophages near the sciatic nerve and relieved VCR-induced peripheral neuropathic pain. Inhibition of the VCR-upregulated HIF1α/NF-κB signaling pathway may be involved in the alleviation of inflammation. These results provide a new approach for relieving CIPNP using a nanozyme.