A class of drugs known as mitochondrial uncouplers could help inhibit ROS production at its source, rather than merely cleaning up what’s already been made, as conventional, antioxidant-based treatments do. Ultrasmall platinum nanoparticles are another highly efficient ROS scavenger, though their small size causes them to be cleared from the liver too quickly.
But, by combining these two strategies into an all-in-one system, a highly effective and long-lasting treatment platform could be created.
To build the nanoscavengers, the team coated a template with platinum nanoparticles and a layer of silica. Then, the template was removed to form hollow shells, which were loaded with a mitochondrial uncoupler and coated with a lipid bilayer. When mixed with two ROS, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2-), the system reduced them to water and molecular oxygen.
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In experiments using human liver cells with induced type 2 diabetes, the nanoscavengers continued to clean up ROS, as well as increase glucose uptake, suggesting that the cells’ insulin sensitivity was restored. The researchers then injected nanoscavengers intravenously into a diabetic mouse model.
Symptoms of diabetic nephropathy were reversed nearly completely. The mice showed no signs of body weight changes or damage to their tissues or organs. The researchers say that this work could provide an effective strategy for long-term treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
Reference :
- Biodegradable Hollow Nanoscavengers Restore Liver Functions to Reverse Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes – (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.3c00875)
Source: Eurekalert
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