New Nanoparticles Generate Hydrogen Inside Cells to Fight Disease
- Authors
- Boyu Zhang, Fei Wang, Hua Zhou, Duyang Gao, Zhen Yuan, Changfeng Wu, Xuanjun Zhang
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1002/anie.201813066
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Oxidative Stress Disorders
- Body System
- Cellular
TL;DR
Scientists have developed tiny, light-activated particles that can create hydrogen inside small fat-based bubbles, potentially helping to treat diseases by fighting harmful oxygen molecules in the body.
Key Finding
Polymer dots confined in liposomes can generate hydrogen gas in response to light, potentially allowing the hydrogen to neutralize excess reactive oxygen species in diseased tissues.
Summary
Researchers created tiny particles made of semiconducting polymer that can generate hydrogen gas when exposed to light. These particles were placed inside liposome containers (small fatty spheres similar to cell membranes) that act as nanoreactors. When light hits the particles, they produce hydrogen gas, which then crosses the liposome membrane to neutralize harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) that build up in diseased tissues. This study used cell culture experiments to test this concept.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage laboratory research in cell cultures, not human studies, so it is far too preliminary to indicate whether this approach would work as a hydrogen therapy in people. The technology is novel and theoretical at this point, and much more research would be needed to determine safety and effectiveness.
Abstract
AbstractSemiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) have recently attracted considerable attention because of their photocatalytic activity as well as tunable optical band gap. In this contribution, we describe the therapeutic application of Pdots through in situ photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Liposomes were employed as nanoreactors to confine the Pdot photocatalyst, reactants, intermediates, and by‐products. Upon photon absorption by the Pdots, the catalytic cycle is initiated and repeated within the aqueous interior, while the H2 product diffuses across the lipid bilayer to counteract reactive oxygen species (ROS) overexpressed in diseased tissues. Ensemble and single‐particle Förster resonance energy transfer microscopy confirmed the proposed nanoreactor model. We demonstrate that a liposomal nanoreactor containing Pdots and a sacrificial electron donor is a potential photocatalytic nanoreactor for in situ hydrogen therapy.