The Use of Hydrogel-Based Materials for Radioprotection

Abstract

Major causes of the radiation-induced disease include nuclear accidents, war-related nuclear explosions, and clinical radiotherapy. While certain radioprotective drug or bioactive compounds have been utilized to protect against radiation-induced damage in preclinical and clinical settings, these strategies are hampered by poor efficacy and limited utilization. Hydrogel-based materials are effective carriers capable of enhancing the bioavailability of compounds loaded therein. As they exhibit tunable performance and excellent biocompatibility, hydrogels represent promising tools for the design of novel radioprotective therapeutic strategies. This review provides an overview of common approaches to radioprotective hydrogel preparation, followed by a discussion of the pathogenesis of radiation-induced disease and the current states of research focused on using hydrogels to protect against these diseases. These findings ultimately provide a foundation for discussions of the challenges and future prospects associated with the use of radioprotective hydrogels.

Keywords: hydrogels; radiation injury; radioprotection.

Figure 1

Scheme of the general hydrogel materials for radiation protection.

Figure 2

Mechanisms of radiation-induced injury.

Figure 3

Gram-scale synthesis and protective mechanism of fullerol for skin radiation protection. Reprinted with permission from [37].

Figure 4

Schematic illustration of synthesis and application of BMSCs-laden hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel.

Figure 5

Schematic illustration of the esophagus-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (EdECM) hydrogel-loaded stent. Reprinted with permission from [105].