journal article·2026-03Open access

Nitrogen‐Boosted H 2 O 2 Production of Arginine‐Polyphenol Nanozyme Drives Oxidative Eustress for Hair Regeneration

Yifei Wang, Yaojia Yang, Aoxue Wang, Chen Shen, Shenliang Tan, Changsheng Liu, Yuzheng Zhao, Xue Qu

Advanced Science· Volume 13· Issue 18

Abstract

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐triggered oxidative eustress can stimulate regenerative signaling, yet its therapeutic window remains narrow. Mitochondrial respiratory complexes and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are canonical enzymatic sources of intracellular H 2 O 2 . Here we report a biomimetic polyphenol–amino acid nanozyme (PEAs) that couples the semiquinone radical of coenzyme Q (ubiquinone) with the Arg143 residue of Zn/Cu‐SOD1. Through self‐assembling epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and L‐arginine (L‐Arg), PEAs enable O 2 adsorption and activation with controlled H 2 O 2 generation. The H 2 O 2 output is finely tuned by modulating the nitrogen (N) content from L‐Arg. Integrated experimental and computational analyses reveal that the N‐sites introduced by L‐Arg promote semiquinone electron delocalization, increase semiquinone abundance, thereby strengthening O 2 adsorption, facilitating electron/proton transfer, and lowering the reaction barrier for H 2 O 2 synthesis. Using the genetically encoded H 2 O 2 sensor HyPerion, this work validates the sustained intracellular modulation of H 2 O 2 by PEAs. In a mouse model of telogen effluvium, controlled H 2 O 2 delivery activates the follicular niche via Wnt/β‐catenin upregulation and Ca 2+ /calcineurin/NFAT downregulation, resulting in robust follicle activation and a non‐pharmacological approach to alopecia therapy. This polyphenol–amino acid nanozyme therefore provides a safe and effective strategy for in vivo pro‐oxidative modulation, offering a tunable H 2 O 2 ‐based platform to harness beneficial oxidative stress for tissue renewal.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Hair Growth and Disorders · Corneal Surgery and Treatments · Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials of Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry School of Materials Science and Engineering East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237 China

Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering School of Pharmacy East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237 China

Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237 China

Research Unit of New Techniques for Live‐cell Metabolic Imaging Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing 100730 China

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

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