Pyrroloquinoline quinone-loaded coaxial nanoﬁbers prevent oxidative stress after spinal cord injury

Nanoscale Advances, 2025 · DOI: 10.1039/d4na00885e · Published: January 7, 2025

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury leads to secondary tissue damage due to a decline in antioxidant enzymes and anti-inflammatory cytokines, causing permanent neural dysfunction. The spinal cord's high lipid content makes it vulnerable to oxidative injury from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excessive ROS generation results in oxidative stress and increased free radicals, worsening secondary damage. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a natural antioxidant with neuroprotective effects. The main challenge is delivering the drug to the target site effectively. Nanoﬁbers are a promising tool for drug delivery in biomedical fields. This study investigates the use of PQQ loaded on coaxial nanoﬁbers in an experimental model of spinal cord injury in rats. The nanoﬁber coaxial design protects drugs, ensuring they remain bioactive during release.

Study Duration

21 days

Participants

Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus), weighing 200–250 g

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The concentration of NO and the activity of iNOS were significantly increased in the SCI group but were significantly decreased following treatment with nanoﬁbers/PQQ.
2
Implantation of nanoﬁbers/PQQ resulted in a significant drop in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to the SCI group, indicating reduced lipid peroxidation.
3
Application of nanoﬁbers loaded with PQQ after SCI caused a significant elevation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in the spinal cord tissue, suggesting enhanced antioxidant defense.

Research Summary

This study explores the use of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) loaded on coaxial nanoﬁbers as an implantable drug-delivery system to combat oxidative stress following spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The results indicate that PQQ-loaded nanoﬁbers effectively reduce nitric oxide (NO) levels, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, while also increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in the spinal cord tissue after SCI. The study concludes that PQQ loaded on CS/PVA coaxial nanoﬁbers has a protective role against oxidative stress in spinal cord injury. The reversal of oxidative stress with PQQ can lead to better physiological and clinical results.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

PQQ-loaded coaxial nanoﬁbers may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating oxidative stress and improving outcomes following spinal cord injury.

Drug Delivery Systems

The coaxial nanoﬁber drug delivery system shows promise for localized and sustained release of antioxidants in the injured spinal cord.

Biomaterial Applications

The study supports the use of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers like chitosan and PVA in creating effective scaffolds for tissue regeneration and drug delivery.

Study Limitations

1
The study is limited to biochemical evaluation of oxidative stress markers.
2
Functional recovery and histological changes were not assessed in this study.
3
Further mechanistic studies are needed to fully elucidate the effects of PQQ on spinal cord injury.

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