Zinc-polydopamine nanozyme promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and alleviates inflammation and muscle atrophy during the perioperative period of surgery

Cisplatin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of diverse malignancies; however, its clinical use often results in skeletal muscle atrophy (SMA). Excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and persistent unsettled inflammation are significant contributors to cisplatin (CPT)-induced skeletal muscle atrophy (CiSMA). Nanoparticles capable of scavenging ROS and alleviating inflammation may effectively address CiSMA. We developed a straightforward, fast one-step method for fabricating tailored zinc-polydopamine (Zn-PD) nanozymes and confirmed their promising therapeutic agents for CiSMA. Zn-PD, which exhibits diverse enzyme-mimicking capabilities, Zn-PD effectively inhibits ROS-triggered myotube apoptosis, rectifies mitochondrial dysfunction, and enhances mitochondrial biogenesis, demonstrating significant anti-inflammatory effects by obstructing the M1 macrophage infiltration into the muscle milieu, thereby mitigating CiSMA in mice. Collectively, this study proposes a treatment approach for CiSMA and underscores the potential of Zn-PD-based therapies for treating muscle atrophy during the perioperative period of surgery.