Foams that incorporate small amounts of carbon monoxide gas could be delivered to the GI tract to combat colitis and other conditions. Carbon monoxide is perhaps best known as a potentially deadly gas. However, in small doses it actually has beneficial qualities: It has been shown to reduce infla
Scientists from MIT and several other institutions designed this foam that can deliver bubbles of carbon monoxide to the gastrointestinal tract and other organs of the body. Credit: Courtesy of the Traverso Lab
A team of scientists has now devised a novel way to deliver carbon monoxide to the body while bypassing its potentially harmful effects. Inspired by techniques used in Traverso and Leo Otterbein, a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, are the senior authors of the paper. The lead authors are James Byrne, a physician-scientist and radiation oncologist at the University of Iowa , and a research affiliate at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; David Gallo, a researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess; and Hannah Boyce, a research engineer at Brigham and Women’s.
A few years ago, Traverso and Otterbein were introduced by Christoph Steiger, a former MIT postdoc and an author of the new study. Traverso’s lab specializes in developing novel methods for delivering drugs to the gastrointestinal tract. To tackle the challenge of delivering a gas, they came up with the idea of incorporating the gas into a foam, much the way that chefs use carbon dioxide to create foams infused with fruits, vegetables, or other flavors.
The MIT team created a modified siphon that could be attached to any kind of gas cannister, allowing them to incorporate carbon monoxide into their foam. To create the foams, they used food additives such as alginate, methyl cellulose, and maltodextrin. Xantham gum was also added to stabilize the foams. By varying the amount of xantham gum, the researchers could control how long it would take for the gas to be released once the foams were administered.
The researchers then set out to investigate possible systemic applications, in which carbon monoxide could be delivered to remote organs, such as the liver, because of its ability to diffuse from the GI tract elsewhere in the body. For this study, they used a mouse model of acetaminophen overdose, which causes severe liver damage. They found that gas delivered to the lower GI tract was able to reach the liver and greatly reduce the amount of inflammation and tissue damage seen there.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Cal product Korey Lee has day to remember as Astros beat AthleticsThe A’s continued to struggle offensively and fell to Houston and former Cal star Korey Lee.
Weiterlesen »
Athletics’ pitcher Paul Blackburn selected to 2022 All-Star GameA’s right-hander Paul Blackburn has a 6-4 record and 3.36 earned run average.
Weiterlesen »
Pittsburgh man acquitted of manslaughter of friend in HawaiiBenjamin Fleming and two friends from Carnegie Mellon University were staying at a vacation rental in Kailua-Kona when a night out drinking ended in a deadly fight.
Weiterlesen »
Are Married People Really Healthier Than Everyone Else?It has long been assumed that married people were healthier long-term than singles because of the built-in support their relationships provided. Turns out, that's not really the case.
Weiterlesen »
Some DoorDash drivers are rejecting 9 out of 10 orders after fuel surcharge is scrappedDelivery drivers are not accepting orders that cost them more to deliver than they're are paid. The food delivery company scrapped its fuel surcharge in May despite soaring costs.
Weiterlesen »
Why high gas prices don’t collect more gas taxGas tax is part of what you pay for a gas-up, but higher gas prices do not equal more money for better roads.
Weiterlesen »