Nanoparticles Explored for Preventing Cell Damage
Several years ago, researchers at the University of Central Florida developed nanoparticles of a chemical known as cerium oxide (CeO2). Cerium oxide has commonly been used in ceramics, catalysts, and fuels cells, but in its nanomolecular form, it is biocompatible and shows promise in medical applications.
Researchers have seen strong supportive evidence that cerium oxide is a great antioxidant. Antioxidants reduce the amount of oxidative stress that the body experiences; oxidative stress has been linked to numerous age-related conditions ranging from arthritis to macular degeneration. There are two key characteristics that make nanocrystalline cerium oxide (nanoceria) special when compared to other antioxidants. The first of which is that it acts as a catalyst in that it has small pores that function as activation site to convert harmful reactive oxygen species into less harmful compounds in the body. By definition, a catalyst is not used up when the reaction takes place, so it is likely that people who choose to use this antioxidant may not need to use it repetitively as with most antioxidants today (this quality has not been proven yet). The other key characteristic of nanoceria is that it has been shown to have a strong impact on prevention of blinding diseases, primarily macular degeneration. Scientists treated mice that had retinal defects, similar to those found in macular degeneration patients, with nanoceria, and the results showed that 85% of the damage to the retina was prevented. Nanoceria also show potential for use in cancer treatment, although the research to back this hypothesis is still early in its development.
I found this article interesting for a couple of reasons. I have been interested in nanotechnology for years now, and I am always excited to hear about a new application for it that I didn’t know about before. Also, my grandma had macular degeneration to the point that she had effectively lost her vision in one eye. Had this technology been developed at the onset of her macular degeneration, it is possible that its progression could have halted shortly after it was initially detected.
http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115085&org=NSF
Researchers have seen strong supportive evidence that cerium oxide is a great antioxidant. Antioxidants reduce the amount of oxidative stress that the body experiences; oxidative stress has been linked to numerous age-related conditions ranging from arthritis to macular degeneration. There are two key characteristics that make nanocrystalline cerium oxide (nanoceria) special when compared to other antioxidants. The first of which is that it acts as a catalyst in that it has small pores that function as activation site to convert harmful reactive oxygen species into less harmful compounds in the body. By definition, a catalyst is not used up when the reaction takes place, so it is likely that people who choose to use this antioxidant may not need to use it repetitively as with most antioxidants today (this quality has not been proven yet). The other key characteristic of nanoceria is that it has been shown to have a strong impact on prevention of blinding diseases, primarily macular degeneration. Scientists treated mice that had retinal defects, similar to those found in macular degeneration patients, with nanoceria, and the results showed that 85% of the damage to the retina was prevented. Nanoceria also show potential for use in cancer treatment, although the research to back this hypothesis is still early in its development.
I found this article interesting for a couple of reasons. I have been interested in nanotechnology for years now, and I am always excited to hear about a new application for it that I didn’t know about before. Also, my grandma had macular degeneration to the point that she had effectively lost her vision in one eye. Had this technology been developed at the onset of her macular degeneration, it is possible that its progression could have halted shortly after it was initially detected.
http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115085&org=NSF
posted by Peter "Alex" Smith at 10:35 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home