Engineering Multi-Functional Enzyme-Mimetic Polyphenol-Catalase Complex for Reversing Hypoxia and Redox Homeostasis in Vascular and Muscular Regeneration
Hypoxia contributes to a wide range of pathological conditions, including muscle atrophy and ischemic diseases, yet effective therapeutic strategies remain limited. In this study, we developed an epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-catalase complex (EC) that simultaneously provides oxygenation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance through multienzyme mimicry. EC exhibits superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity by converting superoxide anion (O<sub>2</sub><sup>•-</sup>) into hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>), followed by catalase-mediated decomposition of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> into oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) and water (H<sub>2</sub>O), thereby transforming harmful ROS into beneficial O<sub>2</sub>. In addition, EC employs peroxidase (POD)- and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-like pathways to further eliminate residual H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, establishing a cascade antioxidative defense system. At the cellular level, EC modulated hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression, promoted angiogenesis, and enhanced myogenic differentiation. <i>In vivo</i>, EC improved muscle regeneration and functional recovery in a dexamethasone-induced atrophy model, while promoting angiogenesis and suppressing fibrosis in a diabetic hindlimb ischemia model. Collectively, these findings highlight EC as an integrated therapeutic platform that combines O<sub>2</sub> supply with ROS regulation via multienzyme mimicry, offering promising potential for the treatment of hypoxia-associated diseases.
Authors
- Su‐Hwan Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5337-3335)
- Minsu Gu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6270-7496)
- Seung‐Woo Cho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8058-332X)
- Sieun Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9959-6005)
- JinWoo Hong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2137-7846)
- Yoonhee Jin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1263-9405)
- Suhyun Park (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1672-3884)
- Su‐Mi Choi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8187-5110)
- Tae Woo Oh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7545-2429)
- Jeong Hyun Heo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9734-5376)
- Yeseul Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0738-5508)
Institutions
- Yonsei University (KR)
- Korea Institute of Brain Science (KR)
- Nanomed (Brazil) (BR)
- Institute for Basic Science (KR)
- Celltechgen (United States) (US)
- Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (CN)
- Dong-A University (KR)
- Chung-Ang University (KR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Nano
- Published
- 2025-12-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c16943
- Primary Topic
- Tea Polyphenols and Effects
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00