Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a family of metalloenzymes that serves as a primary enzymatic antioxidant defense in virtually all aerobic organisms.
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a family of metalloenzymes that serves as a primary enzymatic antioxidant defense in virtually all aerobic organisms. SOD catalyzes the dismutation of the superoxide radical anion (O₂•⁻) into molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, which is subsequently neutralized by Catalase (CAT) or glutathione peroxidase. Three major isoforms exist in mammals: the cytoplasmic copper/zinc-containing SOD1, the mitochondrial manganese-containing SOD2, and the extracellular SOD3. By controlling superoxide levels, SOD plays an indispensable role in maintaining redox homeostasis, protecting cellular membranes, proteins, and nucleic acids from oxidative damage. Its activity is routinely used as a surrogate biomarker of the overall antioxidant capacity of tissues and biological fluids.
Beyond its canonical enzymatic role, SOD activity has been co-opted in biomedical engineering as the conceptual template for a broad class of synthetic antioxidant nanomaterials known as nanozymes—nanostructured materials that mimic SOD's catalytic mechanism. The enzyme functions in concert with Catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as glutathione to constitute a tiered, integrated defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dysregulation of SOD activity is implicated in a wide spectrum of pathologies including diabetes mellitus, neurodegeneration, sepsis-associated organ injury, cardiovascular disease, and chronic inflammatory disorders, making it a critical molecular target in translational research.
Where the papers sit
13 papers from the last 6 months study Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) directly · updated from PubMed 1 Oct 2026
Study type 0 clinical trials · 3 observational · 2 human data · 8 preclinical
Themes 3 themes
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Redox-Modulating Biomaterials
ROS-scavenging nanozymes are being developed as local therapies for oxidative damage in bone, eye, oral tissue, and wound repair. Cerium oxide and Mn3O4 systems aim to restore redox balance, while catalase-like and multienzyme designs broaden scavenging activity. Osteoclast differentiation and age-related oxidative stress provide mechanistic targets in osteoporosis, whereas responsive hydrogels and films focus on sustained delivery. Tissue compatibility, adhesion, and durable activity remain the main translational questions.
5 papers · 38.5%
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Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Oxidative stress markers are being used to link environmental exposure, exercise, aging, and disease to measurable organ dysfunction. Malondialdehyde and related serum, saliva, and tear biomarkers recur alongside clinical or functional endpoints, including oral risk and right-ventricular performance in PAH. The studies mainly establish associations and predictive value rather than a shared treatment strategy. Standardized sampling and validation across populations remain open issues.
5 papers · 38.5%
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Antioxidant Materials and Inflammation
Antioxidant nanomaterials are being paired with anti-inflammatory and protease-modulating functions, especially for skin disease. Gold nanoparticles embedded in Mn/Zn-MOFs and multienzyme MOF colloids seek broader redox control than single antioxidant agents. The twin TMD study approaches the same biology through inflammatory, oxidative, and neurotrophic profiling rather than material delivery. Whether these redox effects translate into durable relief across inflammatory disorders remains unresolved.
3 papers · 23.1%
Papers
The 13 papers from the last 6 months that study Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
Redox-Modulating Biomaterials (5)
- Bone-targeted Mn3O4 nanozymes alleviate osteoporosis by remodeling the age-related oxidative stress microenvironment. Biomaterials science · 22 Jul 2026 PMID 42484352
- Engineering Oxidation-Responsive Polymeric Self-Assembled Nanoreactors for Enhanced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Scavenging. Biomacromolecules · 20 Jun 2026 PMID 42322008
- Multienzyme-Mediated Dynamic Cross-Linking of All-Natural Hydrogels with High Adhesion and Redox Modulation for Rapid Tissue Filling and Repair. Journal of the American Chemical Society · 11 May 2026 PMID 42114044
- A regenerative cerium oxide nanozyme for cataract treatment via oxidative stress regulation. Biomaterials science · 11 May 2026 PMID 42108912
- An amylase-responsive bilayer film for sustained enzyme delivery and ROS-scavenging therapy in oral ulcer treatment. Journal of materials chemistry. B · 16 Apr 2026 PMID 41989817
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers (5)
- Evaluation of Vamana and Virechana as Interventions to Decelerate the Aging Process in Healthy Adult Volunteers: Protocol for an Exploratory Single-Arm Clinical Trial. JMIR research protocols · 16 Sept 2026 PMID 42748372
- Metallotoxicity-driven oxidative perturbations in spinal cord injury: Unraveling the pathophysiological nexus between metal-induced redox imbalance and disease severity: A correlational and multivariate analysis. Molecular biology reports · 15 Sept 2026 PMID 42742870
- Association between serum oxidative stress-related biomarkers and right ventricular function and their predictive value in PAH: A single-cohort study. Medicine · 15 Aug 2026 PMID 42601773
- Effects of Exercise on Ocular Parameters and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Saliva and Tear Fluid of Horses. Veterinary medicine and science · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42585227
- Salivary Oxidative Stress Biomarkers as Predictors of Oral Health Risk Among Coffee-Drinking Smokers and Non-Smokers: Implications for Preventive Dentistry. Oral health & preventive dentistry · 17 Jul 2026 PMID 42466750
Antioxidant Materials and Inflammation (3)
- Gold Nanoparticles-Embedded Mn/Zn-MOF with Enhanced Antioxidant Activities for Treating Atopic Dermatitis. Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) · 13 Jul 2026 PMID 42439201
- Metal-Organic Framework Multizyme Colloids with Joint Antioxidant and Protease Function. Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids · 7 Jul 2026 PMID 42411951
- Inflammatory, oxidative, and neurotrophic profiles in monozygotic twins discordant for pain-related TMD. Molecular biology reports · 14 May 2026 PMID 42132960
By study type
Observational studies and case reports (3)
- Evaluation of Vamana and Virechana as Interventions to Decelerate the Aging Process in Healthy Adult Volunteers: Protocol for an Exploratory Single-Arm Clinical Trial. JMIR research protocols · 16 Sept 2026 PMID 42748372
- Metallotoxicity-driven oxidative perturbations in spinal cord injury: Unraveling the pathophysiological nexus between metal-induced redox imbalance and disease severity: A correlational and multivariate analysis. Molecular biology reports · 15 Sept 2026 PMID 42742870
- Association between serum oxidative stress-related biomarkers and right ventricular function and their predictive value in PAH: A single-cohort study. Medicine · 15 Aug 2026 PMID 42601773
Human data, design not indexed (2)
- Salivary Oxidative Stress Biomarkers as Predictors of Oral Health Risk Among Coffee-Drinking Smokers and Non-Smokers: Implications for Preventive Dentistry. Oral health & preventive dentistry · 17 Jul 2026 PMID 42466750
- Inflammatory, oxidative, and neurotrophic profiles in monozygotic twins discordant for pain-related TMD. Molecular biology reports · 14 May 2026 PMID 42132960
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (8)
- Effects of Exercise on Ocular Parameters and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Saliva and Tear Fluid of Horses. Veterinary medicine and science · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42585227
- Bone-targeted Mn3O4 nanozymes alleviate osteoporosis by remodeling the age-related oxidative stress microenvironment. Biomaterials science · 22 Jul 2026 PMID 42484352
- Gold Nanoparticles-Embedded Mn/Zn-MOF with Enhanced Antioxidant Activities for Treating Atopic Dermatitis. Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) · 13 Jul 2026 PMID 42439201
- Metal-Organic Framework Multizyme Colloids with Joint Antioxidant and Protease Function. Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids · 7 Jul 2026 PMID 42411951
- Engineering Oxidation-Responsive Polymeric Self-Assembled Nanoreactors for Enhanced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Scavenging. Biomacromolecules · 20 Jun 2026 PMID 42322008
- Multienzyme-Mediated Dynamic Cross-Linking of All-Natural Hydrogels with High Adhesion and Redox Modulation for Rapid Tissue Filling and Repair. Journal of the American Chemical Society · 11 May 2026 PMID 42114044
- A regenerative cerium oxide nanozyme for cataract treatment via oxidative stress regulation. Biomaterials science · 11 May 2026 PMID 42108912
- An amylase-responsive bilayer film for sustained enzyme delivery and ROS-scavenging therapy in oral ulcer treatment. Journal of materials chemistry. B · 16 Apr 2026 PMID 41989817
Written from 13 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-06-15. Last written: 2026-09-18 by GPT. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.