Work

Mechanism-Driven Nanomedicine for Radiation Injury and Protection: Redox Homeostasis, the DNA Damage Response, and Microbiome-Based Strategies

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment but is limited by injury to normal tissues. Radiation-induced ROS, DNA double-strand breaks, mitochondrial dysfunction, dysregulated DNA damage responses (DDR), and persistent inflammation drive acute and chronic toxicity. Radioprotective strategies must protect normal tissues without weakening tumor control. This review examines nanomedicine strategies for normal-tissue radioprotection through three mechanisms: (1) redox regulation by nanozymes, radical scavengers, and antioxidant delivery systems; (2) modulation of DDR pathways and cell fate; and (3) microbiome and metabolite regulation. We discuss how these strategies affect molecular damage, inflammation, and tissue repair and assess whether they preserve normal tissues without compromising antitumor immunity or radiotherapy efficacy.

Source: International Journal of Nanomedicine

DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s650755

Authors: Han Li, Xinrui Du, Chengyuan Zhou, Yue Wang, Ke Su, Siyuan Li