A TEMPO-loaded DNA hydrogel enabling integrated early diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized primarily by cartilage degradation. Current imaging techniques often detect OA only after irreversible cartilage damage has occurred, and no drugs are available to halt disease progression. Early diagnosis and intervention may serve as an effective strategy to delay OA advancement. In this study, we developed a multifunctional material TEMPO@DSH by encapsulating 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO), a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive antioxidant, within anti-inflammatory DNA supramolecular hydrogel (DSH). TEMPO@DSH mitigates oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial damage in chondrocytes and inhibits the NF-κB and mTOR pathways, thereby reducing chondrocyte senescence and exerting therapeutic effects against OA. Additionally, by taking advantage of the loss of paramagnetism of TEMPO after reacting with ROS, magnetic resonance imaging following intra-articular injection of TEMPO@DSH can reflect the local levels of ROS in the joint. Given that elevated ROS levels precede observable imaging changes in early-stage OA, this approach enables early diagnosis. Overall, TEMPO@DSH serves as an integrated platform for the early diagnosis and treatment of OA, potentially offering a novel strategy for effective disease management.
Authors
- Yanzhong Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2663-1279)
- Pengcheng Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3720-3250)
- Guangfeng Ruan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1471-7358)
- Changhai Ding (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9479-730X)
- Jianwei Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6236-6628)
- Yan Zhan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0686-3128)
- Shushu Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4657-2728)
- Hong Hsin Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3375-7910)
- Weipeng Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1968-197X)
- Jianmao Chen
- Chao Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9989-6462)
- Wei Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4434-1486)
- Weiyu Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1590-7433)
- Song Xue
- Shiqian Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3066-8864)
- Mingze Tang
Institutions
- University of Tasmania (AU)
- Nanjing Children's Hospital (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (CN)
- Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital (CN)
- Guangzhou First People's Hospital (CN)
- Zhujiang Hospital (CN)
- Peking University Shenzhen Hospital (CN)
- University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital (CN)
- Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital (CN)
- Southern Medical University (CN)
- Guangzhou Medical University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Nanobiotechnology
- Published
- 2025-10-31
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03794-0
- Primary Topic
- Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Ningxia Medical University
- Southern Medical University
- Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province