Progress of Research on the Clinical Application of Radiation Protection Agents

With the advancement of nuclear technology, there is an increasing exposure of individuals to ionizing radiation. Incidents of radiation exposure occur occasionally, with the risk of radiation damage continuously rising. Radiation protectants are employed to prevent, alleviate, and treat ionizing radiation injuries. However, many current radiation protectants exhibit potent side effects, and there is currently no clinically established radiation protectant in routine use. Researchers have persistently endeavored to explore effective and low-toxicity radiation protectants. This article primarily focuses on internationally approved radiation protectants such as amifostine, dexrazoxane, phosphoramide mustard, polyethylene glycol-conjugated phosphoramide mustard, and sargramostim. Additionally, it discusses some natural antioxidants, resveratrol, and mesenchymal stem cells, which are currently undergoing clinical trials and promising to offer new avenues for the prevention and treatment of radiation injuries.