The University of Central Florida has designed a cerium oxide nanoparticle that protects bones against damage from radiation. The ability of the nanoparticle to improve bone regeneration, reduce loss of blood cells, and kill cancer cells have been demonstrated.
Their study was published in bio active materials.
Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells. 40% of patients are cured with this therapy About 75% of patients who receive radiation are affected by bone damage.
The director of the Biionix faculty cluster says that bone is a common site of injury due to its high calcium content. The bone is brittle and easy to break. Many people are unable to repair their broken bones because of the damage caused by radiation. This can lead to an amputation to resolve the problem.
Many health issues can be caused by the surrounding healthy tissue getting damaged by the irradiation beams.
There is no drug or therapy that protects healthy tissue from the effects of radiation. It's not only a problem for cancer patients who receive treatment, but also poses problems for astronauts and deep space exploration.
The body's natural defense against radiation is a group of enzymes called antioxidants, but they can't protect the body on their own. The cerium oxide nanoparticles designed by Seal have a stronger defense mechanism against DNA damage.
The nanoceria works with a lattice structure that is designed to destroy harmful oxygen species.
Coathup worked with a researcher to test thenanozyme in live models.
Rats exposed to the same amount of radiation as cancer patients were shown to have weak and damaged bones. The bone in the animals was unaffected by the three days of radiation and had a strength similar to healthy bones.
The study shows that the treatment helps kill cancer cells and protects against the loss of white and red blood cells in cancer patients. A low white and red blood cell count can make a patient more vulnerable to infections, less able to fight cancer, and more fatigued. The nanoparticles enhanced healthy cells' ability to produce more antioxidants, reduced inflammation, and promoted bone formation.
Future research will look at how to kill cancer cells with the help of thenanozyme. Women are more prone to bone damage than men when it comes to breast cancer.
Coathup says that cancer patients are struggling to fight a single disease. They shouldn't have to worry about those things. We hope this breakthrough will help survivors return to a normal life.
More information: Fei Wei et al, A novel approach for the prevention of ionizing radiation-induced bone loss using a designer multifunctional cerium oxide nanozyme, Bioactive Materials (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.09.011
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