Review Article Volume 14 Issue 5 - 2026

Design Strategies for the Safe Utilisation of Reactive Oxygen Species in Nanomedicine

Mittal Vasava, Rathodiya Mehul, Makwana Devanshu and Mihir Y Parmar*

Department of Pharmacology, Krishna School of Pharmacy, Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Global University, Krishna Edu Campus, Varnama, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

*Corresponding Author: Mihir Y Parmar, HOD and Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Krishna School of Pharmacy, Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Global University, Krishna Edu Campus, Varnama, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
Received: April 12, 2026; Published: May 01, 2026



Reactive oxygen species (ROS) provide powerful therapeutic opportunities in Nano medicine, enabling tumour-selective oxidative removal, redox-responsive drug release, and antioxidant protection in inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders. Particular attention is given to thorough ROS quantification, cross validation, bio distribution designing, and adherence to international regulatory standards to ensure reproducibility and clinical translation. However, their high reactivity also introduces risks of off- target cytotoxicity, immunological disturbance, and long-term nanoparticle accumulation. Protective strategies-including antioxidant co-delivery, incorporation of self-limiting catalytic (precaution) and the use of biodegradable or renal passable confirmation-are highlighted as key to reducing systemic toxicity. This review proposes a comprehensive safety-by-design framework for ROS- modulating nanoplatforms, focusing on selective ROS species deployment, spatiotemporal activation using endogenous or exogenous triggers, and precise catalytic regulation to prevent uncontrolled oxidative stress. Emerging modalities such as photodynamic, chemo dynamic, sono dynamic, and nano enzyme systems are critically evaluated confirm ROS-scavenging and redox-responsive nano carriers.

 Keywords: Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS); Nanomedicine; Safety-By-Design; Photodynamic Therapy (PDT); Chemodynamic Therapy (CDT); Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT); Nanozymes; Antioxidant Nanocarriers; Redox-Responsive Polymers; Spatiotemporal Activation

  1. Yang B., et al. “Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based nanomedicine”. Chemical Reviews8 (2019): 4881-4985.
  2. Liu J., et al. “Biomedical application of ROS‑responsive nanocarriers in cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases”. Frontiers in Chemistry 8 (2020): 838.
  3. Chenyang Zhang., et al. “Reactive oxygen species‑regulating strategies based on nanomaterials for disease treatment”. Advanced Science3 (2020): 2002797.
  4. Jinyong Lin., et al. “A review on reactive oxygen species‑inducing nanoparticles activated by uni- or multi-modal dynamic treatment for oncotherapy”. Nanoscale28 (2023): 11813-11833.
  5. Singh P., et al. “Nanoformulation‑based medicines for the treatment of reactive oxygen species‑induced diseases: a review”. Nanofabrication 10 (2025).
  6. Li Z., et al. “Reactive oxygen species‑dependent nanomedicine therapeutic modalities for gastric cancer”. Nanoscale Advances11 (2025): 3210-3227.
  7. Fadeel B and Garcia‑Bennett AE. “Better safe than sorry: understanding the toxicological properties of inorganic nanoparticles manufactured for biomedical applications”. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews3 (2010): 362-374.
  8. Samrot AV., et al. “Nanoparticles, a double‑edged sword with oxidant as well as antioxidant properties-a review”. Oxygen4 (2022): 591-604.
  9. Kamaly N., et al. “Nanomedicine in the ROS‑mediated pathophysiology: applications and clinical advances”. Nanomedicine8 (2015): 2033-2040.
  10. Yukio Nagasaki. “Design and application of redox polymers for nanomedicine”. Polymer Journal2 (2018): 821-836.
  11. Adityanarayan Mohapatra and In-Kyu Park. “Recent advances in ROS-scavenging metallic nanozymes for anti-inflammatory diseases: a review”. Chonnam Medical Journal1 (2023): 13-23.
  12. Balasubramanyam A., et al. “Review on metal-based nanoparticles: role of reactive oxygen species in renal toxicity”. Chemical Research in Toxicology10 (2020): 2503-2514.
  13. Li Z., et al. “Reactive oxygen species‑dependent nanomedicine therapeutic modalities for gastric cancer”. Nanoscale Advances11 (2025): 3210-3227.
  14. Popat Mohite., et al. “Bioactive compound‑fortified nanomedicine in the modulation of reactive oxygen species and enhancement of the wound healing process: a review”. Pharmaceutics7 (2025): 855.
  15. Oberdörster G., et al. “Nanomaterials and nanoparticles: sources and toxicity”. Environmental Health Perspectives 10 (2008): 823-832.
  16. Megan S Lord., et al. “Redox active cerium oxide nanoparticles: current status and burning issues”. Small 51 (2021): e2102342.
  17. Yukio Nagasaki. “Design and application of redox polymers for nanomedicine”. Polymer Journal2 (2018): 821-836.

Mihir Y Parmar., et al. “Design Strategies for the Safe Utilisation of Reactive Oxygen Species in Nanomedicine”. EC Pharmacology and Toxicology 14.5 (2026): 01-08.