Gold Nanovaccines
A golden gift for immunitySTRF.ru
Saratov specialists propose to create vaccines against viral and bacterial infections using gold nanoparticles.
As it turned out, this precious metal can successfully act as a carrier of antigens of various pathogens dangerous to health, stimulating the body to produce antibodies and thus protect itself from the disease. Perhaps colloidal gold will help doctors to find an effective method of preventing the incidence of such terrible ailments as AIDS and hepatitis C, as well as to find new ways to control the effectiveness of the use of certain medications.
Many people know that silver has disinfecting properties. However, as it turned out, this is not the only precious metal that can work for the benefit of human health. Specialists of the Saratov Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed a technology for activating immune protection against infectious diseases using gold microparticles. Scientists from the Laboratory of Immunotechnology, led by Lev Dykman, conducted work in which they proved that it is possible to attach antigens of pathogens of bacterial infections to gold nanoparticles and, by introducing them into the body, stimulate the production of antibodies.
Saratov researchers "sewed" "enemy" antigens to colloidal gold and injected the resulting conjugates into laboratory animals. The results inspired scientists. Immunization triggered the work of lymphocytes in the body and led to a persistent immune response. Researchers believe that with the help of such a "golden" technology in every sense, it will be possible to create a new generation of vaccines, including against such dangerous diseases as AIDS, various forms of hepatitis, tuberculosis and encephalitis. In addition, precious metal nanoparticles can cause an immune reaction to low molecular weight antigens – haptens, to which the body has not yet been able to produce antibodies. This technology will allow you to control the interaction of the body with vitamins, hormones and antibiotics.
The fact that microscopic gold particles can act as effective carriers of various substances has been repeatedly stated in science. Dykman's group has been closely engaged in the research of this technology. In the course of their work, scientists proved that nanoscale gold particles easily and without the use of special crosslinking agents combine with antigens of various chemical nature, including low molecular weight haptens. The resulting structures activate the phagocytic activity of macrophages and affect the functioning of lymphocytes.
During the immune response to microbial antigens, antibodies begin to be produced in the blood plasma, trying to neutralize them. And if the "golden" conjugate is formed with haptens that do not exhibit immunogenic properties, then the body synthesizes antibodies, the control of which can allow doctors to closely monitor the body's reaction to injected hormones and medications. Colloidal gold is non-toxic and is a biocompatible material. And the unique biophysical properties of a precious metal particle, in particular, the surface charge and the electrostatic field, which in a certain way change the charge, orientation and polarization of antigens, have a significant impact on the mechanism of the immune response.
Lev Dykman, project manager, comments: "Our work shows the fundamental possibility of purposefully activating cells, followed by the activation of those macrophages and the destruction of the pathogen, which certainly seems very promising for creating a new generation of vaccines."
The work of Saratov scientists is partially supported by grants from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru04.09.2009