IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-58447-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Injectable ECM-mimetic dynamic hydrogels abolish ferroptosis-induced post-discectomy herniation through delivering nucleus pulposus progenitor cell-derived exosomes

Author

Listed:
  • Wenkai Wang

    (Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University)
    General Hospital of PLA Xizang Military Area Command)

  • Zhuo Cheng

    (Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University))

  • Miao Yu

    (Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University))

  • Ke Liu

    (Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University))

  • Hongli Duan

    (Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University))

  • Yang Zhang

    (Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University))

  • Xinle Huang

    (Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University))

  • Menghuan Li

    (Chongqing University)

  • Changqing Li

    (Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University))

  • Yan Hu

    (Chongqing University)

  • Zhong Luo

    (Chongqing University)

  • Minghan Liu

    (Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University))

Abstract

Discectomy-induced ferroptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) contributes to postoperative lumbar disc herniation (LDH) recurrence and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). We discover that nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) could imprint ferroptosis resistance into NPCs through exosome-dependent intercellular transmission of miR-221-3p. Based on these findings, we first develop synthetically-tailored NPPC-derived exosomes with enhanced miR-221-3p expression and NPC uptake capacity, which are integrated into an injectable hydrogel based on extracellular matrix (ECM) analogues. The ECM-mimetic hydrogel (HACS) serves as a biomimetic filler for the post-operative care of herniated discs, which could be facilely injected into the discectomy-established nucleus pulposus (NP) cavity for localized treatment. HACS-mediated in-situ exosome release in the NP cavity enables marked ferroptosis inhibition in NPCs that not only prevents LDH recurrence but also reverses the IDD symptoms, leading to robust restoration of NP structure and functions. In summary, this study offers a promising approach for treating disc herniation.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenkai Wang & Zhuo Cheng & Miao Yu & Ke Liu & Hongli Duan & Yang Zhang & Xinle Huang & Menghuan Li & Changqing Li & Yan Hu & Zhong Luo & Minghan Liu, 2025. "Injectable ECM-mimetic dynamic hydrogels abolish ferroptosis-induced post-discectomy herniation through delivering nucleus pulposus progenitor cell-derived exosomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58447-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58447-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58447-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-58447-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58447-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.