ROS-Responsive Injectable Hydrogel Loaded with SLC7A11-modRNA Inhibits Ferroptosis and Mitigates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Rats

Tian Gao; Guangyu Xu; Tiancong Ma; Xiao Lu; Kaiwen Chen; Huanhuan Luo; Gang Chen; Jian Song; Xiaosheng Ma; Wei Fu; Chaojun Zheng; Xinlei Xia; Jianyuan Jiang

doi:10.1002/adhm.202401103

ROS-Responsive Injectable Hydrogel Loaded with SLC7A11-modRNA Inhibits Ferroptosis and Mitigates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Rats

Adv Healthc Mater. 2024 May 1:e2401103. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202401103. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Tian Gao^{1

2}, Guangyu Xu^{1

2}, Tiancong Ma^{1

2}, Xiao Lu^{1

2}, Kaiwen Chen^{1

2}, Huanhuan Luo³, Gang Chen³, Jian Song^{1

2}, Xiaosheng Ma^{1

2}, Wei Fu⁴, Chaojun Zheng^{1

2}, Xinlei Xia^{1

2}, Jianyuan Jiang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, P. R. China.
² Fudan University, Shanghai, 200082, P. R. China.
³ Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Hospital of Jiaxing, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, 314000, P. R. China.
⁴ Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China.

PMID: 38691848
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202401103

Abstract

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is the primary cause of low back pain, with oxidative stress being a recognized factor that causes its development. Presently, low back pain imposes a significant global economic burden. However, the effectiveness of treatments for IVDD remains extremely limited. Therefore, this study aims to explore innovative and effective IVDD treatments by focusing on oxidative stress as a starting point. In this study, an injectable reactive oxygen species-responsive hydrogel (PVA-tsPBA@SLC7A11 modRNA) is developed, designed to achieve rapid loading and selective release of chemically synthesized modified mRNA (modRNA). SLC7A11 modRNA is specifically used to upregulate the expression of the ferroptosis marker SLC7A11. The local injection of PVA-tsPBA@SLC7A11 modRNA into the degenerated intervertebral disc (IVD) results in the cleavage of PVA-tsPBA, leading to the release of enclosed SLC7A11 modRNA. The extent of SLC7A11 modRNA release is directly proportional to the severity of IVDD, ultimately ameliorating IVDD by inhibiting ferroptosis in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). This study proposes an innovative system of PVA-tsPBA hydrogel-encapsulated modRNA, representing a potential novel treatment strategy for patients with early-stage IVDD.

Keywords: back pain; ferroptosis; intervertebral disc degeneration; modified RNA; oxidative stress.

Abstract

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