Advancing Radioprotection: Mechanisms, Interventions, and Therapeutic Strategies

As advancements in human nuclear technology and its applications continue to progress, the potential threats of nuclear war, nuclear accidents, and nuclear terrorism underscore the urgent need for medical prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of nuclear radiation damage. While various treatments for specific radiation-induced injuries are currently under investigation, amifostine remains the only radiation protective agent approved by the FDA. This highlights the necessity for further exploration of the mechanisms and effects of radiation injury, as well as the development of effective techniques and tools for protection, rescue, and rehabilitation.

In this research topic, we aim to advance the study of countermeasures designed to mitigate or treat radiation injury, focusing on the molecular basis of radiation damage and therapeutic strategies. Our goal is to provide valuable insights that will aid in the development of effective therapeutic approaches for radiation injury.

The scope of this research includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

• Mechanisms and new targets of radiation injury: Investigating the underlying mechanisms of radiation injury and identifying new potential drug targets.
• Current status of radiation injury treatments and therapeutic strategies: Evaluating known therapeutic tools, including small molecule compounds, cytokines, exosomes, and nanomaterials.
• Radiation injury protection and traditional medicine intervention: Examining the application and mechanisms of action of traditional medicine in addressing radiation injury, as well as exploring natural products with radiation-protective properties.
• Exploration of additional therapeutic means for radiation damage: Investigating new technologies and methods for protecting against radiation damage.

We welcome submissions of various article types, including Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, Brief Research Report, Data Report, and Opinion.

Please note:
All submissions to the journal involving natural products, including plant extracts or preparations, must adhere to 'The Four Pillars of Ethnopharmacology' to be considered for peer review, regardless of the specialty section, as a baseline standard for sample characterization. These are a set of mandatory guidelines designed to maintain the scientific, cultural, and ethical integrity of the Journal, and describe what the leading journals in the field consider as the basic aspects of good research (full ConPhyMP statement available here), ConPhyMP statement overview here), and GA-tool here). Please refer to the FULL VERSION of these guidelines before submitting a manuscript to the journal.

Keywords: Nuclear radiation, Radioprotection, Radiation injury mechanisms, Therapeutic strategies, Amifostine, Traditional medicine, Molecular basis, Radiation damage prevention

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.