{
  "abstract": "Ionizing radiation poses a significant threat to human health and necessitates the development of effective radioprotective agents. In this study, the radioprotective efficacy of ginsenoside Rh2-loaded casein nanoparticles (Rh2-CNPs) was synthesized and evaluated. The Rh2-CNPs were prepared using a modified co-precipitation method. Physicochemical characterization revealed nanoparticles with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 180 ± 15 nm, a zeta potential of -28 ± 2 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of 75.3 ± 8.5%, and a loading capacity of 23.4 ± 5.9%, indicating successful drug incorporation and good initial dispersion properties. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed a spherical morphology and smooth surfaces. FTIR analysis showed successful encapsulation by hydrogen bonding. In vitro release studies showed a sustained-release profile with 72% drug release after 24 h. In vivo, 32 male BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: Control (C), Radiation (R), Free Ginsenoside Rh2(FG) and Nano-Ginsenoside Rh2 (NG). Mice in the FG and NG groups received 150 mg Rh2/kg/day and 75 mg Rh2-equivalent/kg/day, respectively, for 21 days prior to 5 Gy whole-body γ-radiation exposure. Biochemical analyses were performed 24 h after irradiation. Radiation significantly induced oxidative stress and inflammation, as reflected by decreased SOD and GSH-Px activities in the spleen, increased MDA levels, increased proinflammatory cytokines in serum (TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ) and decreased immunoregulatory cytokines in the spleen (IL-2, IL-10). Pretreatment with ginsenoside, especially with the NG formulation, effectively mitigated these adverse effects. PCA and hierarchical clustering clearly separated the experimental groups. These results suggest that Rh2-CNPs exhibit radioprotective effects in this acute model.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Biomedical Engineering, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran",
    "Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran",
    "Gynecologist Oncologist, Gynevology Oncology Department, Firuzgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran",
    "Department of Stem Cells Technology and Tissue Regeneration, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Technologies, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 15614 Iran",
    "Klinika of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery Akadémia Košice, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Kosice, Slovakia",
    "Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran",
    "Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran",
    "Department of Pathology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 13,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hadi Zare-Zardini",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1501-2560"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Reza Nafisi-moghadam"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Mojgan Karimi-Zarchi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Hossein Soltaninejad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Elham Saberian"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Andrej Jenča"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Janka Jenčová"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Andrej Jenča Jr."
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Adriána Petrášová"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Tahreh Fallah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Fatemeh Ghanizadeh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Maryam Vajihinejad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Shokouh Taghipour Zahir"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c2bbx9ahf6qx1.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s12938-026-01612-8",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13737809/",
  "id": "c2bbx9ahf6qx1",
  "issns": [
    "1475-925X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-026-01612-8",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3004|Ginseng Biological Effects and Applications"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7202037586",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13737809",
  "pmid": "42983413",
  "published": "2026-08-09",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c2bbx9ahf6qx1.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:22:55Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13737809",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-026-01612-8"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:3004|Ginseng Biological Effects and Applications",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Formulation and characterization of ginsenoside Rh2-loaded casein nanoparticles for enhanced radioprotection",
  "title_text": "Formulation and characterization of ginsenoside Rh2-loaded casein nanoparticles for enhanced radioprotection",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:22:55Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c2bbx9ahf6qx1",
  "venue": "BioMedical Engineering OnLine",
  "versions": []
}