Treatment of Parkinson’s patients with the help of nanotechnology? Scientists from the Poznan University of Medical Sciences, who flew to Japan to conduct research, are working on it - so far on a group of animals. The results are very promising. “There is hope for the cure of the sick,” says Dr. Hab. Małgorzata Kujawska, project manager.
Malgorzata Kujawska is a professor at the Medical University in Poznań. A few years ago, she became interested in nanotechnology. This is a set of methods that can create nanoscale structures even at the atomic level. It is assumed that they trigger mechanisms that ensure the regeneration of body cells or directly affect the cause of their damage.
Poles are looking for a cure for Parkinson’s disease
In medicine, nanotechnology is used in the manufacture of implants and during endoscopic examinations. Nanotechnology is also a promise for the pharmaceutical industry, especially when it comes to drugs that have low bioavailability and require high concentrations. Nanotechnology is said to soon be able to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, as well as diabetes and heart attacks.
The Polish team decided to focus on finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease, which affects 8,000 Poles every year. From time to time we hear about a breakthrough in treatment. What is the innovativeness of the project implemented by the Poznań University of Medical Sciences?
Patients with Parkinson’s disease produce an abnormal protein that can spread throughout the nervous system. Thus, it contributes to the death of neurons in the brain. Especially those that are responsible for motor functions, so patients cannot control the coordination of their body. The disease is manifested by muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, tremors, and problems maintaining correct posture.
Graphene nanoparticles - a breakthrough in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease?
There is no cure to stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Only symptomatic therapy is used, explains Dr. Hub. settlement of the farm of Malgorzat Kuyavska. Therefore, within the framework of the project, he is studying an innovative approach to the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. We rely on graphene nanoparticles, which show potentially low toxicity and good brain permeability, in contrast to currently tested therapeutics.
What is said graphene? It is a structure composed of carbon atoms, which is considered the material of the future. It looks like honeycombs.
Hopes of patients with parkinsonism and skepticism of a part of the environment
The researchers say there is a lot of interest from the scientific community in the new therapeutic approach, but there is also skepticism about the use of graphene. In addition, previous attempts to interact with the unwanted protein using antibodies did not bring the expected results. Some also talk about the side effects of graphene, such as lung disease. “However, preliminary studies of the tested graphene nanoparticles do not confirm this,” says M. Kujawska.
The Polish team does not stop working. It is supported by scientists from Florida Polytechnic University and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The next stage of research will be the development of the method of introduction and the form of the most promising graphene nanoparticles.
The project is funded by the National Research Center and implemented jointly with the Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Source: Wprost
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