Innovative antioxidant therapies for space medicine

Permanence in space is well known to induce heavy modifications in the human physiology, at level of several organs/systems. Microgravity and space radiations are the main responsible of the health issues encountered by the astronauts, and oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of these (pseudo)pathological conditions. In order to provide efficient and long-term countermeasures to scavenge reactive oxygen species overproduced in the space environment, we propose nanotechnological approaches, based on “smart” nanomaterials able to act as powerful antioxidant agents. Our past and ongoing research on such nanoparticles (mainly cerium oxide and polydopamine nanoparticles) will be briefly overviewed.