Injectable Hydrogen Gel Reduces Joint Damage in Arthritis Study
- Authors
- Wenjing Zhang, Lingting Zeng, Huan Yu, Ziheng He, Cuishan Huang, Cairong Li, Yangyi Nie, Long Li, Feifei Zhou, Ben Liu, Zhang Yuantao, Zhenyu Yao, Wei Zhang, Ling Qin, Di Chen, Qianjun Di, Yuxiao Lai
- Journal
- Acta Biomaterialia
- Year
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.12.056
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Osteoarthritis
- Body System
- Musculoskeletal
TL;DR
Scientists developed a special gel that releases hydrogen gas to reduce inflammation and slow down the damage in joints caused by osteoarthritis when injected just once.
Key Finding
An injectable hydrogel loaded with calcium boride nanoparticles released hydrogen gas for over one week and significantly reduced joint destruction in osteoarthritis rat models with a single injection.
Summary
Researchers developed an injectable gel containing calcium boride nanoparticles that slowly releases hydrogen gas directly into the joint. In rat studies, this gel reduced harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species and inflammatory chemicals that damage joints in osteoarthritis, while promoting protective immune cells. A single injection significantly reduced joint damage in arthritic rats over the study period.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in animals only, not yet tested in humans. While the results suggest hydrogen gas delivery via this gel formulation may help reduce osteoarthritis progression, much more research is needed before any clinical use. The sustained-release approach is novel, but its safety and effectiveness in people remain unknown.
Abstract
Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplifies pro-inflammatory pathways and exacerbates immune responses, and is a key factor in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Therapeutic hydrogen gas (H2) with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, has a potential for OA alleviation, but the targeted delivery and sustained release of H2 are still challenging. Herein, we develop an injectable calcium boride nanosheets (CBN) loaded hydrogel platform (CBN@GelDA hydrogel) as a high-payload and sustainable H2 precursor for OA treatment. The CBN@GelDA hydrogel could maintain constant physiological pH conditions which further promotes more H2 release than the CBN alone and lasts more than one week. The biocompatibility of this hydrogel with macrophages and chondrocytes is effectively enhanced. The experiments show that the CBN@GelDA hydrogel holds the ROS scavenging ability, reducing the expression of related inflammatory cytokines, lessening M1 macrophages but stimulating M2 phenotype, and thereby decreasing chondrocyte apoptosis, which facilitates to breaking of the vicious circle of OA progression. Furthermore, a single-time injection of the CBN@GelDA hydrogel markedly reduces joint destruction in OA rats. From what has been discussed above, this injectable spontaneous H2-releasing hydrogel is promising for OA treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Oxidative stress and inflammation play the key role in the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis (OA). The system of a hydrogel loaded with H2 precursor calcium boride nanosheet (CBN), which is the first to use as an H2 precursor, integrates superior injectable and biocompatible of hydrogel and the selection of antioxidant properties of H2. This system can improve H2 release behavior and achieve a single injection into the articular cavity to alleviate the progression of OA in rats. This study of the combination of a convenient long-acting injectable hydrogel and a safe therapeutic gas is of great value for improving the quality of life of clinical patients.