Silicon Nanoparticles Protect Kidneys from Transplant Damage in Rats
Oral Administration of Si-Based Agent Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Model: A Novel Hydrogen Administration Method
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Masataka Kawamura, Ryoichi Imamura, Yuki Kobayashi, Ayumu Taniguchi, Shigeaki Nakazawa, Taigo Kato, Tomoko Namba-Hamano, Toyofumi Abe, Motohide Uemura, Hikaru Kobayashi, Norio Nonomura
- Journal
- Frontiers in Medicine
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.3389/fmed.2020.00095
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Kidney Transplant Complications
- Body System
- Renal
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Crushing silicon into tiny particles and giving it to rats helped protect their kidneys from damage after a blood supply interruption, by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
Key Finding
Oral administration of nano-sized silicon particles significantly reduced kidney damage markers and oxidative stress in rats with transplant-related kidney injury, with effects visible 72 hours after treatment.
Summary
Researchers tested a new way to deliver hydrogen to the body by giving rats tiny silicon particles that produce hydrogen when they react with water in the stomach. In rats with kidney injury from a transplant procedure, the nano-sized silicon particles reduced markers of cellular damage, decreased inflammation, and protected kidney tissue better than larger silicon particles or no treatment.
Practical Takeaway
This study demonstrates a novel method for delivering hydrogen to the body in rats with kidney injury, but it is early-stage animal research. Before any conclusions can be drawn for human use, this approach would need to be tested in human clinical trials to confirm safety and effectiveness.
Abstract (excerpt)
Organ ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), which is unavoidable in kidney transplantation, induces the formation of reactive oxygen species and causes organ damage. Although the efficacy of molecular hydrogen (H2) in IRI has been reported, oral intake of H2-rich water and inhalation of H2 gas…