Application of medical gases in prevention and treatment of electromagnetic radiation injury.

Abstract

The widespread proliferation of electromagnetic technologies in communications, healthcare, and daily life poses increasing risks of radiation-induced tissue injury. Mitigating these deleterious effects remains a formidable challenge. Recently, medical gases, including molecular hydrogen (H2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), and hyperbaric oxygen, have emerged as a promising therapeutic modality with radioprotective potential. These gases exert their effects through integrated, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and mitochondrial-protective mechanisms. Specifically, the endogenous gasotransmitters (CO, NO, and H2S) modulate precise signaling networks, while the exogenous interventions (H2, and hyperbaric oxygen) function primarily through direct radical scavenging or the induction of hormetic stress responses. This review evaluates the research progress of these five medical gases in preventing and treating injuries across the electromagnetic spectrum. H2 possesses the broadest evidence base, particularly in radiofrequency and ultraviolet protection. H2S and CO demonstrate potent efficacy in addressing ultraviolet-induced skin and retinal damage. NO plays a dual role as both a cytoprotectant and a mediator of bystander effect propagation. Hyperbaric oxygen enhances systemic resilience through preconditioning. Delivery strategies have evolved from conventional inhalation and oral administration toward smart nanocarriers and stimuli-responsive donor systems. However, these platforms still face challenges in spatiotemporal control and long-term safety. Furthermore, broader limitations, including an uneven research distribution across electromagnetic wavebands, a scarcity of clinical trials, and the lack of non-invasive methods for real-time gas concentration monitoring, are comprehensively discussed.