Mitigation of Radiation-induced Acute Hematopoietic System and Intestine Injury by Resveratrol-loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles after Whole Body Irradiation in Mice

Background: Radiation-induced damage to the hematopoietic and gastrointestinal systems, especially the intestine, is a major concern for individuals exposed to whole-body radiation during an accident. Resveratrol has shown potential in mitigating radiation-induced toxicity, but its efficacy may be limited by its low bioavailability. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of resveratrol-loaded polymeric-based nanocapsules in mitigating radiation-induced injury in the hematopoietic system and intestine after whole-body exposure to radiation. Methods: Sixty male mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, radiation (single dose of 7.2 Gy of X-ray) only, resveratrol-loaded polymeric-based nanocapsules (RES-ACN) only, and radiation plus RES-ACN. Mice were exposed to a single dose of 7.2 Gy of X-ray radiation. RES-ACN was administered to the mice starting 24h after irradiation up to day 7 post-irradiation. Then, blood and tissue samples were collected for complete blood count and histopathological and biochemical evaluation. Survival analyses were also conducted. Results: The findings showed that RES-ACN significantly mitigated radiation-induced injury to the hematopoietic system and intestine. The histopathological evaluation showed the mitigation of villi shortening, inflammation, and mucous layer thickness following treatment with RES-ACN. Biochemical evaluation also demonstrated a significant increase in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase and a significant reduction in the concentrations of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide. Treatment with RES-ACN also showed a significant improvement in some of the blood parameters and increased survival compared to radiation only. Conclusion: The findings suggest that resveratrol-loaded polymeric-based nanocapsules can be an effective approach to mitigate radiation-induced damage to the hematopoietic system and intestine after whole-body exposure to X-ray radiation in mice. Further research is needed to explore the optimal dose and timing of resveratrol administration and to investigate the potential for clinical translation of this approach.