Biomaterial-Assisted Senescence-Targeting Treatment Strategy for Central Nervous System Injury

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) injury triggers a series of complex pathophysiological reactions, including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. These factors play key roles in inducing cellular senescence, thereby disrupting the balance of the microenvironment and seriously hindering tissue regeneration and repair processes. Thus, targeting cellular senescence presents a promising target for the treatment of CNS injuries. In this review, we summarized multiple potential strategies targeting senescence, including the regulation of neuroinflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, and stem cell supplementation. Furthermore, we discussed representative biomaterials with functional potential to target cellular senescence and their applications in promoting repair and regeneration in CNS injuries.

Impact Statement

Central nervous system (CNS) injury can cause cellular senescence, which inhibits nerve regeneration and repair. We propose a new treatment strategy for CNS injury, which aims to alleviate cellular senescence and promote tissue regeneration by regulating DNA damage and oxidative stress, etc., and propose that biomaterials such as inorganic nanozymes have strong targeting senescence capabilities. The combination of targeting senescence strategies and biomaterials opens up new directions for CNS tissue engineering, which is helpful for the development of new drugs for CNS injury.