User:Ajmorris/proposal working page

Working idea
We would like to use nanoparticles to catalyze the reduction of free oxygen radicals. This could prevent DNA damage due to free radicals in the body.

Questions to research

 * How attach oxygen radical to nanoparticle?
 * What do oxygen radicals do in body and where can they be found? Are there any good functions of oxygen radicals?
 * How can a nanoparticle reduce an oxygen radical?
 * What can we learn from antioxidants in food and vitamins?
 * How can we make a nanoparticle biodegradable?

Background

 * Oxygen free radicals in biology: superoxides (O2-,formed during mitochondrial metabolism) and hydroxyl radicals
 * Benefits: O2- used by immune system to fight bacteria
 * Damage:neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, aging

Possibilities
1. Attach magnetic NPs to oxygen free radicals and drive formation of O2. Details: How to attach NP to oxygen free radical? Biodegradable or reusable NPs? 2. Link natural antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) or glutathione (GSH) to NP. Details: Oxidative stress of metals like Cu and Mn. Advantage of NP? 3. Harness catalytic reduction properties of NP. Details: It has been shown that O radicals are reduced to O2 by the reaction between Au and support materials, like gold electrodes and boron-doped diamonds. AuNP electrodeposited on a gold electrode by a 5 s portential step with 1.1 to 0 V drop and a solution of 0.5 M H2SO4 + 0.11 mM Na[AuCl4] reduces O radicals.