2. Academic Validation
  3. A TEMPO-loaded DNA hydrogel enabling integrated early diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis

A TEMPO-loaded DNA hydrogel enabling integrated early diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis

  • J Nanobiotechnology. 2025 Oct 31;23(1):695. doi: 10.1186/s12951-025-03794-0.
Hong Huang # 1 2 3,  Mingze Tang # 4,  Pengcheng Hu # 3,  Yingshi Zhan # 3,  Wei Sun 1 2,  Weipeng Zheng 1,  Jianwei Zhu 1,  Jianmao Chen 3,  Song Xue 5,  Shiqian Huang 3,  Weiyu Han 4,  Chao Zhang 6,  Changhai Ding 7 8 9 10 11,  Yan Zhang 12,  Shushu Li 13,  Guangfeng Ruan 14 15
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong, China.
  • 2 Clinical Research Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong, China.
  • 3 Clinical Research Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China.
  • 4 Centre of Orthopedics, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China.
  • 5 Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China.
  • 6 Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China.
  • 7 Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 8 Clinical Research Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 9 Clinical Research Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 10 Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Australia. [email protected].
  • 11 Clinical Research Centre, Tsinghua Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 102218, China. [email protected].
  • 12 Clinical Research Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 13 Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Women and Children' s Healthcare Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China. [email protected].
  • 14 Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • 15 Clinical Research Centre, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510180, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 41174784 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-025-03794-0
Abstract

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.

Keywords

DNA hydrogel; Early diagnosis; Osteoarthritis; Therapy.

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