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Antioxidant Nanotherapies for Intervertebral Disk Degeneration: Progress and Prospects
Yingzi Zhou1, Yihang Fan1, Yuxuan Hu1
1The First School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Antioxidant nanotherapies show promise for treating intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD) and associated low back pain by targeting oxidative stress. These nanotechnology-based approaches scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) to restore cellular balance and halt degeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD) is a primary cause of low back pain (LBP), leading to significant public health and economic challenges.
- Oxidative stress, characterized by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupted redox homeostasis, drives IVDD progression through inflammation and cellular damage.
- Current therapies for IVDD primarily address macrostructural compression but fail to resolve underlying molecular dysregulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze antioxidant nanotherapies as a novel strategy for treating IVDD.
- To explore the mechanisms by which nanotherapies combat oxidative stress and protect intervertebral disc cells.
- To discuss the potential of nanotechnology in overcoming limitations of conventional IVDD treatments.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of four categories of antioxidant nanotherapies: inorganic nanozymes, bioactive nanomaterials, stimuli-responsive nanosystems, and nanocomposite scaffolds.
- Elaboration on the mechanisms of ROS scavenging, redox equilibrium restoration, and mitochondrial protection.
- Discussion of integrating biomimicry and responsiveness for multi-pathway ROS-scavenging nanosystems.
Main Results:
- Antioxidant nanotherapies effectively scavenge ROS, restore redox balance, protect mitochondrial function, and mitigate oxidative stress-induced degeneration in IVDD.
- Engineered composite nanosystems with biomimicry and responsiveness exhibit multi-pathway ROS-scavenging capabilities.
- Nanotechnology offers a promising avenue for arresting IVDD progression by targeting molecular mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Nanotechnology-based antioxidant strategies represent a significant advancement in the therapeutic approach to IVDD.
- These nanotherapies hold potential for halting IVDD progression by addressing redox imbalances and oxidative stress.
- Key challenges in clinical translation of these nanotherapies require further investigation.
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