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A team of Brazilian scientists has developed a particle, produced from nanotechnology, capable of saving lives by reversing the effects of cocaine overdose, according to a study.
disclosed this Friday by the Federal University of Goias (UFG).
The speed with which the nanoparticle acts in the body is what prevents death by reversing the effects of overdose by capturing up to 70% of the cocaine present in the body.
This work, which has not yet been tested in humans, was developed by researcher Sarah Rodrigues Fernandes, under the direction of Dr. Eliana Martins Lima, as part of the postgraduate program in science. pharmaceutical UFG.
The tests, explained Martins Lima in statements to Efe, showed that it was possible that a living being, as was the case of a guinea pig used in the laboratory tests of the ### 39, study, quickly found the normality of their vital signs after being administered. the nanoparticle developed.
"Symptoms such as hypertension begin to normalize in less than three minutes," said the researcher.
And is it time is essential to save a life that is suffering the effects of an overdose of cocaine.
"Cocaine begins to be metabolized in the body about 30 minutes after it has been ingested, so acting before these 30 minutes is essential," he added.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's global report, about 37% of drug-related deaths are due to overdoses.
Nanotechnology is a scientific field that studies and develops extremely small structures and materials, the size of a nanometer (a nanometer is a million times smaller than a millimeter).
Nanoscale particles encapsulate and transport substances for different purposes. This is what the nanoparticle produced in research does: it absorbs cocaine and encapsulates it inside itself.
"The membrane (outer part) and its nucleus have been optimized to absorb the drug in its interior, where the cocaine causes a chemical reaction and no longer comes out," said the researcher.
According to Martins Lima, this type of nanoparticle can be applied in case of overdose with other types of drugs and even be used for detoxification processes in case of addiction.
"Another effect we found (in the study) was that the nanoparticle prevented practically 100% of the drug from reaching the brain, the central nervous system, where long-term effects occur in the body. 39 chronic use of the drug.It is necessary to make specific studies for these cases, but yes.This possibility is open, "he said.
The research, funded by the Amparo Foundation for Research of the State of Goiás (Fapeg), opens up perspectives of application for humans.
This requires clinical trials whose results are in line with the requirements of the health authorities.
These studies will have to be developed by a pharmaceutical laboratory that wants to badociate with the university.
"We do not have the tools or tools to solve the regulatory problems that are needed," said the researcher.
The results of the research will be officially presented in June in Portugal, at the Nano Today conference, one of the largest international events on nanotechnology in the world, and whose journal will publish the study. Rio de Janeiro, May 12 (EFE)
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