Ruthenium Oxide Nanozyme for Tendinopathy Treatment via Countering Ferroptosis

In situ injection of the obtained hollow porous RuO₂ nanozymes into the rat Achilles tendon demonstrated that RuO₂ inhibits type I collagenase-induced tendon matrix degradation by scavenging excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby counteracting ferroptosis.

Abstract

The global prevalence of tendinopathy (TP) is steadily increasing, resulting in functional impairments in tendons across individuals of all ages. Excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a pivotal role in the development of TP, which compromises tendon repair and integrity through oxidative stress. This process is often accompanied by ferroptosis—a newly recognized form of iron-dependent programmed cell death. This study explores ruthenium oxide (RuO₂) hollow nanospheres as an effective nanozyme to address oxidative damage and ferroptosis in type I collagenase-induced TP. In vitro experiments show decreased mRNA levels of inflammatory biomarkers in tenocytes, while western blot analysis and immunofluorescence reveal reduced extracellular matrix degradation after RuO₂ treatment. In the TP model, the RuO₂ nanozyme therapy and improves tendon fiber arrangement, alleviates pain, and increases type I collagen expression while preventing matrix degradation. These findings suggest that the RuO₂ nanozyme possesses significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, providing protective effects on tenocytes by ROS scavenging and countering ferroptosis, indicating its potential for treating TP.