Researchers at CNU’s College of Medicine have developed a new treatment technology that addresses both inflammation and oxidative stress, the underlying causes of gout.

Unlike conventional treatments that only provide temporary pain relief, this next-generation method offers enhanced efficacy with reduced side effects.

Professor Park In-kyu from the Department of Biomedical Science, along with Professor Seon Jong-keun and Dr. Kim Hyung-keun from CNU Hospital’s Orthopedics Department, co-developed a nanozyme-based treatment method for gouty arthritis.

At the core of the technology is a dual-function nanozyme, combining porous cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles with anti-inflammatory α-lipoic acid. 

These nanozymes suppress both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory pathways simultaneously.

Notably, the nanoparticles are hollow and designed to release the drug only at highly inflamed sites, minimizing side effects while maximizing targeted therapeutic delivery.

In vitro studies demonstrate inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reprogramming of M1 macrophages, immune cells that cause inflammation, demonstrating suppression of inflammation at its root.

In animal models, the treatment significantly reduced joint swelling, inflammation, and oxidative stress, with imaging confirming the precise delivery of drug to the affected areas. 

Professor Park commented, “This technology has potential applications beyond gout, including rheumatoid arthritis and neurological inflammatory diseases. We're also exploring integration with microneedle patch technology for painless drug delivery and pursuing commercialization through faculty-founded startup DRCure Inc.”

The research was published in the globally prestigious journal, Chemical Engineering Journal, under the title “A Dual-Modality Nanozyme Exploiting ROS-Responsive Oxygen Catalysis for Precision NF-κB Pathway Suppression in Gouty Arthritis.”