Fullerenol-mediated vascular regeneration and radioprotection: A strategy for tissue recovery post-radiation

Radiation therapy is crucial in combating malignant tumors, yet its damage to the microvascular system can significantly impair patient recovery and prognosis. Although current radiation protection measures mitigate free radical damage to target organs, they fall short in safeguarding the surrounding microvasculature. This study pioneers the use of the matrigel plug angiogenesis model to investigate the application of the water-soluble fullerene derivative Fullerenol in microvascular radioprotection, aiming to effectively protect and repair the microvascular system during radiation therapy, thereby reducing its adverse effects on healthy tissues. Our findings demonstrate that Fullerenol not only efficiently scavenges free radicals, reducing radiation-induced damage, but also promotes endothelial cell proliferation, facilitating the repair of damaged microvasculature and surrounding tissues. Additionally, Fullerenol was found to inhibit Caspase-3 and activate the PI3K/AKT (Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Protein kinase B) proliferation metabolic pathway and its downstream proteins, such as eNOS and VEGF (Endothelial nitric oxide synthase/Vascular endothelial growth factor), decreasing endothelial cell apoptosis and maintaining vascular proliferation and angiogenesis potential. This research provides a new option for microvascular radioprotection and offers fresh insights into the repair of tissues damaged by radiation therapy.