Efficient active hydrogen delivery for drug-free radiation enteritis therapy in mice
Xianggui Yin1, Changfen Bi2, Yuanfang Chen1
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, P.R. China.
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Radiation enteritis, affecting over 90% of pelvic/abdominal radiotherapy patients, is primarily caused by radiation-induced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Active hydrogens, with broad-spectrum RONS scavenging ability, show radioprotective potential but face delivery challenges due to the intestinal mucus barrier and short lifespan. Here, we show drinkable, self-thermophoretic sodium alginate/chitosan oligosaccharide-coated hydrogenated molybdenum oxide nanomachines (HxMoO3@SA@COSs) that exhibit near-infrared (NIR)-driven directional motility and sustained active hydrogen release. In a male mouse model of radiation enteritis, HxMoO3@SA@COSs overcome the mucus barrier, prolong intestinal retention, and deliver active hydrogen to injury sites, enabling precise enteritis therapy. Beyond RONS scavenging, the released hydrogen induces anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization, increases goblet cell abundance, and modulates gut microbiota, promoting intestinal repair. This hydrogen-based, drug-free strategy demonstrates superior efficacy in treating radiation enteritis.
