Enhanced inhalation delivery of ROS-responsive methylprednisolone dimer nanoparticles via hydrogen-oxygen carrier gas for efficient treatment of acute lung injury with CFD-simulated pulmonary deposition
Research hubs: Respiratory System · Immune System
- Authors
- Xidong Tian, Bogang Li, Jiamao Chen, Haidong Zha, Chang Liu, Jianhuan Guan, Tzu-Ming Liu, Defang Ouyang, Ying Zheng
- Journal
- International Journal of Pharmaceutics
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2026.127568
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Acute Lung Injury (ALI)
- Body System
- Respiratory System
TL;DR
A hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture improved the delivery of anti-inflammatory drug nanoparticles deep into the lungs and reduced inflammation in a mouse model of acute lung injury.
Summary
Researchers developed a nebulization system using a 2:1 hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture to deliver specially designed methylprednisolone nanoparticles that release their medication in response to elevated oxidative stress. Laboratory tests and computer simulations showed that the gas mixture improved aerosol deposition and penetration through lung mucus compared with air. In mice with experimentally induced acute lung injury, the system improved drug distribution into smaller airways and reduced inflammatory markers, including IL-6 and TNF-α. Hydrogen-oxygen inhalation alone also demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects. These findings suggest that hydrogen may serve both as a therapeutic gas and as a means of improving inhaled drug delivery, although the approach has not yet been validated in humans.
Abstract (excerpt)
Distal lung delivery remains a key bottleneck for inhaled therapy in severe pulmonary disease. We developed a hydrogen-oxygen mixture (H2/O2 mixture, 2:1 v/v) gas-assisted nebulization platform to deliver ROS-responsive, self-assembled methylprednisolone dimer nanoparticles (MP2-TK NPs). MP2-TK NPs…