Platinum nanoparticle
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Platinum Nanoparticles are usually in the form of a suspension or colloid [1] of sub-micrometre-sized particles of platinum[2] in a fluid, usually water. A colloid is technically defined as particles which remain suspended without forming an ionic, or dissolved solution. The broader commercial definition of "colloidal platinum" includes products that contain various concentrations of ionic platinum, platinum colloids, ionic platinum compounds or platinum nanoparticles in purified water.
The Platinum Nanoparticles size ranges between 2-3 nanometres (2nm-3nm). Trillions of platinum Nanoparticles are suspended in the brownish red or black colored colloidal solution. Nanoparticles come in wide variety of shapes. Spheres, rods, cubes, and caps are some of the more frequently observed ones.
For centuries, the experimentation with various metals led to mastering and enhancements in various fields like medicine, metallurgy, engineering etc. Due to the unique anti-aging effects, anti free oxygen radicals properties or anti-Reactive oxygen species properties of the Platinum Nanoparticles, they are the subject of substantial research, with applications in a wide variety of areas, including Nanotechnology, medicine and the synthesis of novel materials with unique properties.
Synthesis
Platinum Nanoparticles[3] are fabricated by reduction of hexachloropatinate, including 0.02wt% of 90-130% of platinum during the determination of quantity. After dissolving hexachloropatinate, the solution is rapidly stirred, while a reducing agent is added. This causes Platinum ions to be reduced to neutral platinum atoms. As more and more of these platinum atoms form, the solution becomes supersaturated, platinum gradually starts to precipitate in the form of sub-nanometre particles. The rest of the platinum atoms that form stick to the existing particles, and, if the solution is stirred vigorously enough, the particles will be fairly uniform in size. Various procedures employed to attain platinum nanoparticles include heating, reflux, cooling, stirring, filtration and filling, examinations & tests and packaging. To prevent the particles from aggregating, some sort of stabilizing agent or stabilizer that sticks to the nanoparticle surface is usually added. They can be functionalized with various organic ligands to create organic-inorganic hybrids with advanced functionality.
History
The quest for the so-called” Elixir of life” by ancient alchemists to prolong youth & longevity, prevent aging and aging associated diseases, and rejuvenation of the human body and regain back the lost youth and maintain it for eternity, led to experimentation with various noble metals with known beneficial properties like Platinum, gold ,silver and even mercury. But unavailability of the means, safe route of administration eventually led to failures. With the strides in nanotechnology and platinum Nanoparticles, it is said to have reached a critical phase of human quest.
Current Research
Research in 21st century by Japanese scientists led by Prof.Miyamoto of the Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate school of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan,[4] resulted in the use of platinum Nanoparticles[5] of the size 2-3nm to increase the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans[6]. This supports the fact that platinum nanoparticles plays an active role in longevity of the organism. They have also succeeded in improvisation and integration of platinum nanoparticles into the day to day commonly used products and medicines alike.
Mechanism of Action
Reactive oxygen species or free oxygen radicals causes aging, and aging associated diseases. Platinum Nanoparticles are termed to be very beneficial to the human physiology due to anti-reactive oxygen species (also known as anti-free oxygen radicals) properties. Platinum nanoparticles neutralize the harmful free oxygen radicals (or reactive oxygen species)in the body and prevent their detrimental actions within the human body.
Health & Medical Applications
Platinum nanoparticles is used in anti-aging medicines[7], to delay the onset of aging, slow down the side effects of aging[8] like aging associated diseases , to rejuvenate the human body cells, to boost the body immune system[9].
Similar anti-aging and rejuvenating effects are said to be seen by using day to day products like Platinum Chewing Gum, Platinum water (drinking water with platinum nanoparticles), Platinum Mouth Essence (Mouth wash with platinum nanoparticles) and various other products like cosmetics[10] (supposedly to prevent wrinkles) etc.
Safety
Nanoparticles may present possible safety and moral issues , both medically and environmentally. Most of these issues usually arise due to the high surface to volume ratio, which can make the particles of some metals very reactive or catalytic .Animal experiments conducted so far has not posed any risks. They are able to pass through cell membranes in organisms and theirt interactions with biological systems are relatively unknown.However, free nanoparticles in the environment quickly tend to agglomerate and thus leave the nano-regime, and nature itself presents many nanoparticles to which organisms on earth may have evolved immunity (such as salt particulates from ocean aerosols, terpenes from plants, or dust from volcanic eruptions).But whether cosmetics and sunscreens containing nanomaterials pose health risks remains largely unknown, pending completion of long-range studies recently begun by the FDA and other agencies.Platinum , since being a noble metal, the risks involved with platinum nanoparticles may be termed minimal or negligible and hence is termed as safe for human usage. Also, rigorous and stringent safety regulations usually employed by Platinum nanoparticle manufacturers would also add to the safety of the final colloidal product.
See also
Comprehensive study of aging and free radicals
External links
References
- ^ Bernhard Wessling, Conductive Polymer / Solvent Systems: Solutions or Dispersions?, 1996, http://www2.ormecon.de/Research/soludisp/
- ^ Unknown Facts about Platinum, http://watches.infoniac.com/index.php?page=post&id=44
- ^ Creation of Platinum Nanoparticles , http://www.ias.ac.in/matersci/bmsdec2000/467.pdf
- ^ Graduate school of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan, http://www.ib.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ib-E/index.html
- ^ Room temperature synthesis of colloidal platinum nanoparticles,http://www.ias.ac.in/matersci/bmsdec2000/467.pdf
- ^ Effects of a potent antioxidant, platinum nanoparticle, on the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans by Juewon Kim a, Mayumi Takahashi b, Takahiko Shimizu b, Takuji Shirasawa b,1, Masashi Kajita a,c, Atsuhiro Kanayama a,2, Yusei Miyamot, www.elsevier.com/locate/mechagedev
- ^ Complimentary Medicine, http://healthinfo.cedars-sinai.edu/library/healthguide/en-us/Cam/topic.asp?hwid=hn-1173001
- ^ Physiological Basis of Aging and Geriatrics, By Paola S. Timiras, p.26, Published 2003 Informa Health Care,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0849309484
- ^ Beck, Gregory; Gail S. Habicht (November 1996). "Immunity and the Invertebrates, http://www.scs.carleton.ca/~soma/biosec/readings/sharkimmu-sciam-Nov1996.pdf
- ^ Keay Davidson. "FDA urged to limit nanoparticle use in anti-wrinkle cosmetics and sunscreens,http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/17/MNGFHIT1161.DTL
Articles
- OnEarth Magazine » Our Silver-Coated Future
- The Ethics and Politics of Nanotechnology, UNESCO brochure on the science, ethics, legal and political issues surrounding nanotechnology
- The new industrial revolution of Nanotechnology
Videos
- VIDEO: Using Nanotechnology to Improve Health in Developing Countries February 27, 2007 at the Woodrow Wilson Center
- VIDEO: Nanotechnology Discussion by the BBC and the Vega Science Trust.
- 'Nano2Hybrids' Follow an EU Project Video clips of an EU Nanotechnology Research Project.
- 'Nanomedicine Dermal Display' Animation of future nanomedicine application that could maintain ones body and health via hand computer.