Protective mechanisms and therapeutic promise of nanomaterials in radiation-induced diseases

Abstract

Radiotherapy is one of the common approaches for tumor treatment by suppressing tumor growth, which, however, inevitably leads to severe damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Although significant advances have been made in the development of radioprotective agents, the high toxicity and low bioavailability are still the main obstacles to their applications. Recently, the emergence of nanotechnology has brought promising solutions to address these challenges. Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, such as precisely controllable size, functionalized surfaces, excellent biocompatibility, and efficient drug delivery capabilities, nanomaterials have shown great potential in revolutionizing radiation protection medicine. This review systematically summarizes the developments of nanomaterial-based radioprotection, focusing on the protective mechanism, design innovation, and practical applications. It is expected that this review could provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the progress in nanomaterial-mediated radioprotection, thereby generating novel inspiration and approaches to facilitate the development of effective nano-therapeutics for radiation-related diseases.