![]() ![]() One of the predominant mechanisms is through nanoparticles also producing free radicals. There, the particles may be binding to the DNA, and that potentially causes all kinds of havoc. If they're small enough, they can enter the nuclear pore and get transported into the nucleus, where they could interact directly with DNA. There are several different mechanisms that have been identified. How can nanoparticles cause this kind of DNA damage? If your cells replicate and those modified bases become set, then you have the increased chance of mutagenesis, and that could lead to cancer. When you induce these oxidatively modified bases, the sequence of your DNA is modified. Or it can cause the DNA to lose a base.Ĭhange in the genetic code itself is possible from such damage as well? The structure of a given base may either collapse or expand. The hydroxyl radical actually attaches to the DNA base molecule. If they're close enough to the DNA, free radicals can interact with the DNA in the cell liquids and cause these changes. Ionizing radiation may create free radicals such as hydroxyl, which can cause oxidation of DNA. Fortunately, humans and other living organisms have many redundant DNA repair systems in their bodies. For example, ultraviolet light can induce some damage to our DNA and therefore, the body has to have a mechanism to repairing that. We're trying to understand, for example, how carbon nanotubes may change the properties of DNA.ĭNA can repair itself, so how vulnerable is it to such damage?Įven when we're just walking around, our DNA is being damaged. We're looking at molecular level interactions. What happens when these nanoparticles interact with a cell? The focus these days is really to be able to identify individual particles. As we develop methods for detecting nanoparticles in different environmental matrices, whether it's water, sediment, or even the air, we have two main strategies: identification of the particles and quantification of the particles. There's going to be multiple different forms, so we need new methods and technologies to be able to discriminate between all these different types of materials. It becomes really complex in that there's not going to be just one type of nanoparticle released into the environment. We want to know what type and how much of the nanomaterials are potentially entering the environment, but to do that, we have to have the methodology, measurements, and protocols in place to be able to actually measure the small quantities that are released and to identify the type of nanomaterials that are present. You can produce stronger materials out of certain nanomaterials, and there are some that may have medical applications.Īs these products get more mainstream, are more nanoparticles released into the environment? Engineered silver nanoparticles that may have antibacterial properties are in products from socks to washing machines. There's a lot of commercial interest in their production. Is the use of nanomaterials in consumer products just a fad? They are prevalent in the environment and the initial forms of these materials come from volcanic eruptions or even from automobile exhaust, but we can also design these carbon nanotubes using chemical procedures. We call them engineered nanomaterials, but they actually have been around as natural nanomaterials since time immemorial. Is there a distinction between natural and engineered nano particles?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |