• Ting Zhang, Qing Huang, Liangjie Lu, Ke Zhou, Keqi Hu, and Kaifeng Gan.
• Department of Orthopaedics, Li Huili Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Oct 26.

BackgroundIntervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a common cause of lower back pain, and cell apoptosis plays a key role in its progression. This study explores the therapeutic potential of a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive hydrogel loaded with allicin for treating IVDD.MethodsAllicin was encapsulated in a ROS-responsive hydrogel, and its controlled release was studied in vitro. Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide to induce apoptosis, and the effects of the hydrogel were examined using qPCR and Western blotting. An in vivo rat model of IVDD was also established to assess the efficacy of the treatment.ResultsThe ROS-responsive hydrogel effectively inhibited apoptosis in NP cells by reducing ROS levels and modulating the expression of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes. In the rat model, the hydrogel loaded with allicin significantly reduced IVDD, preserving disc morphology and matrix integrity.ConclusionsROS-responsive hydrogel loaded with allicin shows potential as a therapeutic approach for IVDD by inhibiting cell apoptosis and reducing disc degeneration in vivo.Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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