Hydrogen-Releasing Microspheres Treat Back Pain from Disc Degeneration
- Authors
- Tianui Zhang, Yongjie Wang, Ruhui Li, Jingguo Xin, Zhi Zheng, Xingmin Zhang, Chunsheng Xiao, Shaokun Zhang
- Journal
- Acta Biomaterialia
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.01.020
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
- Body System
- Musculoskeletal
TL;DR
Scientists have created tiny, magnesium-based particles that release hydrogen to reduce harmful oxidative stress in spinal discs, showing promise for treating back pain caused by disc degeneration.
Key Finding
Magnesium-containing microspheres that generate hydrogen gas in response to oxidative stress reduced inflammation and prevented tissue breakdown in rats with intervertebral disc degeneration.
Summary
Researchers created tiny capsules containing magnesium that release hydrogen gas in response to harmful molecules (called reactive oxygen species or ROS) that accumulate in damaged spinal discs. In rats with spinal disc degeneration, these capsules reduced inflammation, slowed the breakdown of disc tissue, and preserved disc structure. The treatment appeared safe with no significant toxicity observed.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in animals only, so it cannot yet inform human use. While the results suggest hydrogen gas delivery via this novel capsule system may help protect spinal discs from oxidative damage, many steps of testing in humans would be needed before any clinical application. The study does not directly test hydrogen water or other forms of hydrogen that consumers might access.
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a degenerative disease characterized by lower-back pain, causing disability globally. Antioxidant therapy is currently considered one of the most promising strategies for IVDD treatment, given the crucial role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in IVDD pathogenesis. Herein, a ROS-responsive magnesium-containing microsphere (Mg@PLPE MS) was constructed for the antioxidative treatment of IVDD. The Mg@PLPE MS has a core-shell structure comprising poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and ROS-responsive polymer poly(PBT-co-EGDM) as the shell and a magnesium microparticle as the core. The poly(PBT-co-EGDM) can be destroyed by H2O2 through the H2O2-triggered hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic transition, subsequently promoting an Mg-water reaction to produce H2. Thus, Mg@PLPE MS provides a valuable platform for H2O2 elimination and controlled H2 release. The generated H2 scavenge for ROS by reacting with noxious •OH. Notably, the Mg@PLPE MS exerted significant antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in a disc degeneration rat model and alleviated extracellular matrix degradation and disc cells apoptosis, thereby underlining its efficacy in IVDD treatment. The Mg@PLPE MS also exhibited robust biocompatibility and negligible toxicity, presenting the promise for the antioxidative treatment of IVDD in vivo. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Antioxidant therapy is currently considered one of the most promising strategies for intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) treatment, given the crucial role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in IVDD pathogenesis. Here, ROS-responsive magnesium-containing microspheres (Mg@PLPE MSs) were constructed to alleviate IVDD through controlled release of hydrogen gas. The Mg@PLPE MSs can effectively scavenge overproduced ROS by simultaneously reacting with H2O2 and •OH, thus creating a suitable microenvironment for inhibition of ECM degradation. As a result, Mg@PLPE MSs treated IVDD rats exhibit minimal nucleus pulposus decrease, less extracellular matrix degradation, minimal radial fissure of fibrous rings, and higher disc height index. Therefore, the as-prepared Mg@PLPE MS may shed a new light on clinical treatment of IVDD.