Hydrogen-Releasing Coating on Breathing Tubes Protects Airway Tissue from Damage
- Authors
- Guo Mu, Huyang Du, Shuai Chen, Xinyu Chen, Qiang Li, Xuan Yu, Bin Lu, Yi Liu, Cheng Zhang
- Journal
- Biomaterials Advances
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.bioadv.2026.215037
- Study Type
- Rabbit
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Airway Mucosal Injury
- Body System
- Respiratory
TL;DR
A hydrogen-releasing coating on endotracheal tube cuffs reduced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and airway mucosal injury in cell and rabbit intubation models.
Key Finding
A hydrogen-releasing nanocoating on endotracheal tubes reduced airway tissue damage and cell death in both laboratory and rabbit models by neutralizing harmful free radicals.
Summary
Researchers developed a special coating for breathing tubes that releases hydrogen gas to protect the throat from damage caused by the tube's pressure. In laboratory tests with human airway cells and in rabbits, the coating reduced harmful molecules called free radicals, prevented cell death, and preserved the structure of throat tissue. The coating appeared safe in short-term tests, but the researchers noted that longer-term safety studies are still needed before this could be used in patients.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage research suggests hydrogen may help protect airways during intubation, but these findings are from animal studies and laboratory tests only. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed to determine if this coating could actually benefit patients. Long-term safety data is also still being gathered.
Abstract
Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff compression can induce severe airway mucosal injury through ischemia-reperfusion mechanisms, wherein oxidative stress plays a critical pathogenic role. Despite its clinical significance, effective protective strategies remain limited. Here, we developed a hydrogen-releasing nanocoating for ETT cuffs to mitigate airway injury. The coating was fabricated by integrating palladium hydride (PdH) nanoparticles into a polydopamine (PDA) matrix, creating a stable, uniform layer capable of sustained hydrogen release. Characterization confirmed successful PdH incorporation through UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. In in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) cell models using BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells, the PDA-PdH coating (12.25 μg/mL) demonstrated selective scavenging of hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide while preserving beneficial superoxide species. The coating significantly reduced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels, enhanced superoxide dismutase activity, and protected mitochondrial integrity and cytoskeletal structure. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assays revealed marked reductions in intracellular reactive oxygen species and apoptosis rates. In in vivo evaluation using a rabbit tracheal intubation model with high cuff pressure (40 cmH2O) showed that PDA-PdH-coated ETTs effectively preserved tracheal mucosal integrity and attenuated inflammatory infiltration, as confirmed by histological examination and Western blot analysis of apoptosis-related proteins. Importantly, the coating exhibited acceptable short-term biocompatibility, with no observable cytotoxicity in vitro or gross histological organ damage within the 3-day observation window; however, comprehensive long-term biosafety evaluation remains to be conducted. These findings demonstrate that the PDA-PdH nanocoating represents a promising prophylactic strategy for preventing airway mucosal injury during endotracheal intubation.