SCI Rep: nanoparticles can help treat stroke

May 23, 2019 / BIOON / - a new study found that small selenium particles can promote the recovery of brain injury and have therapeutic effect on ischemic stroke Pharmacologists, including Alireza mashaghi from Leiden pharmaceutical research academic center, found that selenium nanoparticles can inhibit the molecular mechanism of brain cell loss after stroke The research results were published in scientific reports Image source: scientific reports nanoparticles fight against the constriction or blockage of blood vessels that supply the brain in the event of a stroke As a result, the blood supply to the brain is inadequate "Lack of blood can lead to brain tissue damage due to cytotoxicity, inflammation and cell death," mashaghi explained This in turn can lead to brain dysfunction and neurological disorders such as numbness, vision problems, dizziness and severe headaches "Ischemic stroke accounts for 87% of all strokes and is an important cause of death So far, no neuroprotective agents have been shown to produce any measurable improvement in the health of stroke patients Now, our results show that selenium nanoparticles can inhibit the molecular mechanism of brain cell loss after stroke "Ischemia is a lack of blood supply to the tissues, which leads to a lack of oxygen for cell metabolism Ischemia is usually caused by vascular problems, resulting in tissue damage or dysfunction It is usually caused by vasoconstriction, thrombosis, or occlusion of blood vessels Ischemia includes not only oxygen deficiency, but also decreased availability of nutrients and metabolic waste (the latter leads to cytotoxicity) According to mashaghi, this new approach not only helps treat brain damage caused by stroke, but also limits the extent of the damage by protecting brain cells during competition "During and after a stroke, limited blood supply to the brain can cause oxidative tissue damage to affected brain areas," he explained Selenium granules can reduce this oxidative stress and related cell death "This is because nanoparticles affect the metabolism of nerve cells and inhibit inflammation, which is the main cause of harmful effects "This inflammation of the brain caused by a stroke can lead to excessive accumulation of fluid, resulting in increased intracranial pressure (pressure in the skull) and clinical symptoms of a stroke "Mashaghi, an intelligent nanoparticle, is passionate about the discovery:" this nanoparticle design is unique because it has neuroprotective properties and is safe They are smart enough to sense and locate ischemic brain regions "In order to reduce side effects, it is essential that healthy areas of the brain or other organs are not affected "As a result, these nanoparticles have advantages over traditional drugs They can be "programmed" to target areas of the brain that are affected, while conventional drugs are usually distributed throughout the body, contaminating all organs "Mashaghi said At present, therapeutic nanoparticles are still in the experimental stage "However," mashaghi said, "in the future, we will evaluate the efficacy of this new drug on patients "Reference: Hamed Amani et al Selenium nanoparicles for targeted stroke therapy through modulation of informatory and mechanical signaling, scientific reprots (2019) Doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42633-9