Reactive oxygen species-scavenging biomaterials for neural regenerative medicine

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a natural by-product of oxygen metabolism. As a signaling molecule, ROS can regulate various physiological processes in the body. However excess ROS may be a major cause of inflammatory diseases. In the field of neurological diseases, ROS causes neuronal apoptosis and neurodegeneration, which severely impede neuroregeneration. Currently, ROS-scavenging biomaterials are considered a promising therapeutic strategy for neurological injuries due to their ability to scavenge excess ROS at defects and modulate the oxidative stress microenvironment. This review provides an overview of the generation and sources of ROS, briefly describes the dangers of generating excess ROS in nerve system diseases, and highlights the importance of scavenging excess ROS for neuroregeneration. We have classified ROS-scavenging biomaterials into three categories based on the different mechanisms of ROS clearance. The applications of ROS-responsive biomaterials for neurological diseases, such as spinal cord injury, brain injury, and peripheral nerve injury are also discussed. Our review contributes to the development of ROS-scavenging biomaterials in the field of neural regeneration.