Citation: Jun Gu, Haitao Yuan, Bo Chu, Tianqi Wang, Jin Fan, Feng Shi, Jun Wu, Xuan Sun, Xiaojun Feng. A ROS-scavenging peptide hydrogel combined with mesenchymal stem cells for promoting spinal cord injury recovery[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(10): 112123. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112123 shu

A ROS-scavenging peptide hydrogel combined with mesenchymal stem cells for promoting spinal cord injury recovery

Jun Gu ^{a, 1} ,
Haitao Yuan ^{a, 1} ,
Bo Chu ^a ,
Tianqi Wang ^a ,
Jin Fan ^b ,
Feng Shi ^c ,
Jun Wu ^{d, *,} ,
Xuan Sun ^{c, *,} ,
Xiaojun Feng ^{a, *,}

a.
Department of Orthopedics, Xishan People’s Hospital of Wuxi City, Wuxi 214105, China
b.
Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of NJMU, Nanjing 210029, China
c.
School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212016, China
d.
Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering Thrust, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511400, China

junwuhkust@ust.hk

xsun61@foxmail.com

featherinwind81@163.com

Received Date: 23 August 2025
Revised Date: 13 November 2025
Accepted Date: 14 November 2025
Available Online: 15 November 2025

Figures(4)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disorder often leading to long-term motor dysfunction and permanent disability. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation has been explored to promote SCI recovery; however, the survival and efficacy of transplanted BMSCs are severely compromised by the excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) present at the injury site. In this study, we developed a peptide hydrogel (MnO₂-Gel) with excellent ROS-scavenging capacity and good biocompatibility. In vitro experiments demonstrated that MnO₂-Gel significantly enhanced BMSC survival under oxidative stress conditions. In a rat model of SCI, co-injection of MnO₂-Gel and BMSCs into the lesion site markedly improved locomotor recovery, indicating the potential of this combination strategy for treating SCI.
- Spinal cord injury,
- Mesenchymal stem cells,
- ROS-scavenging hydrogel,
- BMSC transplantation,
- Oxidative stress
1. [1]
  J.H. Badhiwala, J.R. Wilson, M.G. Fehlings, Lancet Neurol. 18 (2019) 24–25. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30444-7
2. [2]
  H. Shen, C. Fan, Z. You, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 32 (2021) 2110628.
3. [3]
  C. Ehrmann, S.M. Mahmoudi, B. Prodinger, et al., J. Rehabil. Med. 52 (2020) jrm00037.
4. [4]
  A. Alizadeh, S.M. Dyck, S. Karimi-Abdolrezaee, Front. Neurol. 10 (2019) 282. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00282
5. [5]
  M. Karsy, G. Hawryluk, Curr. Neurol. Neurosci. Rep. 19 (2019) 65. doi: 10.1007/s11910-019-0984-1
6. [6]
  M.E. Schwab, D. Bartholdi, Physiol. Rev. 76 (1996) 319–370. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1996.76.2.319
7. [7]
  W. Chi, R. Liu, W. Zhou, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 36 (2025) 110587. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110587
8. [8]
  Z. Li, T. Zhao, J. Ding, et al., Bioact. Mater. 19 (2023) 550–568.
9. [9]
  D. Liu, G. Lu, B. Shi, et al., Adv. Healthc. Mater. 12 (2023) e2300123. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202300123
10. [10]
  P. Assinck, G.J. Duncan, B.J. Hilton, et al., Nat. Neurosci. 20 (2017) 637–647. doi: 10.1038/nn.4541
11. [11]
  S. Papa, I. Vismara, A. Mariani, et al., J. Control. Rel. 278 (2018) 49–56. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.03.034
12. [12]
  T. Cao, H. Chen, W. Huang, et al., Theranostics 12 (2022) 3057–3078. doi: 10.7150/thno.72015
13. [13]
  C.P. Hofstetter, E.J. Schwarz, D. Hess, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 99 (2002) 2199–2204. doi: 10.1073/pnas.042678299
14. [14]
  O. Albayrak, T.E. Sener, M. Ersahin, et al., Int. J. Impot. Res. 32 (2020) 308–316. doi: 10.1038/s41443-019-0168-1
15. [15]
  W. Xu, L. Chi, R. Xu, et al., Spinal Cord. 43 (2005) 204–213. doi: 10.1038/sj.sc.3101674
16. [16]
  V. Neirinckx, D. Cantinieaux, C. Coste, et al., Stem. Cells 32 (2014) 829–843. doi: 10.1002/stem.1579
17. [17]
  L. Li, B. Xiao, J. Mu, et al., ACS Nano 13 (2019) 14283–14293. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.9b07598
18. [18]
  Z. Liu, X. Yao, W. Jiang, et al., J. Neuroinflammat. 17 (2020) 90. doi: 10.1117/12.2552000
19. [19]
  A. Marchini, A. Raspa, R. Pugliese, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 116 (2019) 7483–7492. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1818392116
20. [20]
  R.C. Assuncao-Silva, E.D. Gomes, N. Sousa, et al., Stem Cells Int. 2015 (2015) 948040.
21. [21]
  S. Eskandari, T. Guerin, I. Toth, et al., Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 110-111 (2017) 169–187.
22. [22]
  W. Zhang, H. Wu, L. Xie, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 36 (2025) 110800. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110800
23. [23]
  B. Li, T. Qiu, P. Zhang, et al., Cell Prolif. 47 (2014) 133–145. doi: 10.1111/cpr.12094
24. [24]
  A.E. Haggerty, M. Oudega, Neurosci. Bull. 29 (2013) 445–459. doi: 10.1007/s12264-013-1362-7
25. [25]
  M.B. Orr, J.C. Gensel, Neurotherapeutics 15 (2018) 541–553. doi: 10.1007/s13311-018-0631-6
26. [26]
  T. Kanemoto, R. Reich, L. Royce, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 87 (1990) 2279–2283. doi: 10.1073/pnas.87.6.2279
27. [27]
  K. Tashiro, G.C. Sephel, B. Weeks, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264 (1989) 16174–16182. doi: 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)71604-9
28. [28]
  Y. Chai, Y. Long, X. Dong, et al., Colloids Surf. B 210 (2022) 112220. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112220
29. [29]
  M.J. Webber, E.T. Pashuck, Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 172 (2021) 275–295.
30. [30]
  M. Reches, E. Gazit, Science 300 (2003) 625–627. doi: 10.1126/science.1082387
31. [31]
  B. Xiao, X. Zhou, H. Xu, et al., ACS Nano 12 (2018) 12682–12691. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.8b07584
32. [32]
  Y. Wu, Z. Wang, Y. Ge, et al., J. Control. Rel. 370 (2024) 747–762. doi: 10.3390/cryst14080747
33. [33]
  Y. Zhao, S. Song, D. Wang, et al., Nat. Commun. 13 (2022) 6758.
1. [1]
  Chuyu Huang , Zhishan Liu , Linping Zhao , Zuxiao Chen , Rongrong Zheng , Xiaona Rao , Yuxuan Wei , Xin Chen , Shiying Li . Metal-coordinated oxidative stress amplifier to suppress tumor growth combined with M2 macrophage elimination. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(12): 109696-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109696
2. [2]
  Huiyang Chen , Zibo Li , Xiaoying Li , Chenhong Tang , Xiaoyu Liu , Minyi Nie , Ying Huang , Xiaoyu Chen , Kuncai Liu , Yilan Dai , Qiaoling Zhang , Ling Lin , Siming Zhang , Bingchen Zhang , Zhiqiang Yu . A novel mitochondria-targeted nanoprodrug amplifies oxidative stress to enhance cisplatin chemotherapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(10): 111313-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111313
3. [3]
  Ruimiao Chang , Xinying Qu , Yuting Ye , Ying Qu , Bingyang Chu , Zhiyong Qian . Current advances in nanomedicine-based therapies for acute kidney injury. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(10): 110802-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110802
4. [4]
  Qiang Luo , Jinfeng Sun , Zhibo Li , Bin Liu , Jianxun Ding . Thermo-sensitive poly(amino acid) hydrogel mediates cytoprotection through an antioxidant mechanism. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(7): 110433-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110433
5. [5]
  Xingyu Chen , Sihui Zhuang , Weiyao Yan , Zhengli Zeng , Jianguo Feng , Hongen Cao , Lei Yu . Synthesis, antibacterial evaluation, and safety assessment of Se@PLA as a potent bactericide against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(10): 109635-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109635
6. [6]
  Chengcheng Zhang , Zhe Wu , Ningning Jiang , Yi Song , Weina Geng , Hongmei Liu , Ming Jin , Shuxiang Wang , Jinchao Zhang , Yutao Yang . A fluorescent probe regulated by trifluoromethyl and nitrogen-containing heterocycles for monitoring biothiol fluctuations in the brains of mice with schizophrenia. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(1): 111476-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111476
7. [7]
  Le Chen , Hui Wang , Yiyun Cheng . An erucin-anchored polymer with excellent amyloidosis inhibition and direct cell membrane penetration ability for intracellular protein delivery. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(4): 111172-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111172
8. [8]
  Xiaoshuai Wu , Bailei Wang , Yichen Li , Xiaoxuan Guan , Mingjing Yin , Wenquan Lv , Yin Chen , Fei Lu , Tao Qin , Huyang Gao , Weiqian Jin , Yifu Huang , Cuiping Li , Ming Gao , Junyu Lu . NIR driven catalytic enhanced acute lung injury therapy by using polydopamine@Co nanozyme via scavenging ROS. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(2): 110211-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110211
9. [9]
  Weixiao Ding , Shujun Wang , Peng Zhou , Hongyan Wang , Xinmeng Li , Yalei Qiao , Yixuan Wu , Jian Cui , Xiang Zhao , Chuntao Chen , Xiao Fu , Hongxia Qu , Lei Zhang , Dongping Sun . Hydrogel of fast stress relaxation co-delivering platelet-rich plasma and β-cells for diabetes treatment. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(10): 112128-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112128
10. [10]
  Xiao Ma , Junjie Wang , Xin Chen , Jingcheng Li , Fang Wang , Xueping Sun . “我不是坏人！”——一颗自由基的自白书. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(8): 194-202. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202507008
11. [11]
  Meng Pan , Dong Mo , Wen Chen , Yun Yang , Qingya Liu , Yujia Wei , Xicheng Li , Hanzhi Deng , Yan Yu , Liping Yuan , Yu Liu , Zhiyong Qian . Ultrasound-augmented chemodynamic and chemotherapy amplify cascade oxidative stress for potentiating immunogenic cell death in pancreatic cancer treatment. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(9): 112846-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2026.112846
12. [12]
  Yanjing Li , Jiayin Li , Yuqi Chang , Yunfeng Lin , Lei Sui . Tetrahedral framework nucleic acids promote the proliferation and differentiation potential of diabetic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(9): 109414-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109414
13. [13]
  Xiangdong Lai , Tengfei Liu , Zengchao Guo , Yihan Wang , Jiang Xiao , Qingxiu Xia , Xiaohui Liu , Hui Jiang , Xuemei Wang . In situ formed fluorescent gold nanoclusters inhibit hair follicle regeneration in oxidative stress microenvironment via suppressing NFκB signal pathway. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(2): 109762-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109762
14. [14]
  Jiao Lu , Bin Yang , Zhou Wu , Yong Li , Jun Wang , Ruihong Yao , Yanli Li , Zhihao Lu , Yufei Jiang , Fabiao Yu , Zhirong Geng , Zhilin Wang . Dual-activated fluorescent sensor visualizes energy metabolism pathways under ferroptosis-mediated oxidative stress relevant to cancer therapy. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(5): 111334-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111334
15. [15]
  Zeyang Yao , Xinru You , Xudong Wang , Yunze Kang , Liying Wang , Ziji Zhang . Stem cell-based hydrogel for the repair and regeneration of cartilage. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(8): 110607-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110607
16. [16]
  Qi Huang , Jun Liao , Jingjing Li , Zhengyan Gu , Xinkang Zhang , Mingxue Sun , Wenqi Meng , Guanchao Mao , Zhipeng Pei , Shanshan Zhang , Songling Li , Chuan Zhang , Yunqin Wang , Jihao Liu , Tingbin Shu , Min Tao , Ying Lu , Kai Xiao , Qingqiang Xu , Jincai Lu . Curcumin-loaded ceria nanoenzymes for dual-action suppression of inflammation and alleviation of oxidative damage in the treatment of acute lung injury. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(4): 109914-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109914
17. [17]
  Jiaxi Wang , Zhiwei Gao , Hao Liang , Qianyue Liu , Weiqian Jin , Huyang Gao , Bailei Wang , Ruikai Zhu , Jiahao Huang , Xiaowen Li , Xingmou Wu , Weijiu Mo , Yinhan Liao , Ming Gao , Xiaojie Li , Cuiping Li . NIR stimulated epigallocatechin gallate loaded polydopamine with enhanced antibacterial and ROS scavenging abilities for improved infectious wound healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(7): 110569-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110569
18. [18]
  Qiuyue Lu , Min Shan , Jiaqi Yang , Zhongren Xu , Yueyue Lei , Wukun Liu . A dinuclear gold(I) complex with bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands potentiated immune responses against liver cancer via ROS-driven endoplasmic reticulum stress and ferroptosis. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(12): 110940-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110940
19. [19]
  Yang Feng , Yang-Qing Tian , Yong-Qiang Zhao , Sheng-Jun Chen , Bi-Feng Yuan . Dynamic deformylation of 5-formylcytosine and decarboxylation of 5-carboxylcytosine during differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into mouse neurons. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(11): 109656-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109656
20. [20]
  Lele Meng , Ruhe Zhang , Liying Wang , Yuanzheng Wang , Bo Li , Long Chen . Glucose/ROS dual-responsive hydrogel loaded with mangiferin accelerates diabetic wound healing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(9): 111981-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111981

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(0)
Abstract views(4)
HTML views(0)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142