22 December 2023
Nanotechnology-based scaffold implant delivers hydrogen more efficiently, potentially rewinding age-related changes and preventing geriatric diseases.
Chinese researchers have made a significant breakthrough in anti-ageing therapy by developing a scaffold implant that delivers hydrogen 40,000 times more efficiently than other methods. This nanotechnology-based implant releases hydrogen slowly and sustainably over a week, compared to the 30-minute limit of hydrogen-rich water. The therapy has shown promising results in repairing bone defects in older mice and has the potential to reverse age-related changes in the body, offering hope for preventing geriatric diseases.
The Broad-Spectrum Anti-Ageing Properties of Hydrogen
Hydrogen has been found to act as an anti-inflammatory agent that scavenges toxic radicals associated with ageing. It has a universal anti-senescence impact on various cells and tissues, allowing them to continue replicating and growing. The scaffold implant, developed by the Chinese researchers, takes advantage of the broad-spectrum anti-ageing properties of hydrogen to induce bone growth and repair defects in elderly mice.
Addressing the Micro-Environment of Senescence
Senescence, the gradual deterioration of bodily functions with age, is a major contributor to age-related conditions and diseases. At a cellular level, senescence can cause DNA damage, loss of cell cycle functions, and the secretion of inflammatory materials. This creates a “senescence micro-environment” that impairs tissue and bone self-repair. Existing anti-senescence treatments have limitations in regulating the entire micro-environment. However, hydrogen has the ability to shift the micro-environment from pro-inflammation to anti-inflammation, supporting bone defect regeneration.
The Development of Biosafe Scaffold Implant
The scaffold implant developed by the Chinese researchers is biosafe and utilizes metasilicate, calcium ions, and hydrogen gas. It consists of calcium disilicide nanoparticles that store hydrogen and are sprayed onto porous, bioactive glass. The implant is then wrapped in a biodegradable polymer to prevent rapid hydrogen release. In tests on older mice with femoral bone defects, the scaffold released hydrogen for up to nine days, a duration not reported by any other method.
The Future of Anti-Ageing Technology
While further research is needed, the Chinese researchers believe that continuous hydrogen supply could become a universal anti-ageing technology. The therapy shows potential in treating various ageing-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s. The team’s next challenge is to develop a scaffold implant with an even longer period of hydrogen release, which could further enhance tissue repair.
Conclusion: The breakthrough in anti-ageing hydrogen therapy by Chinese researchers offers a promising solution to age-related changes in the body and the prevention of geriatric diseases. The nanotechnology-based scaffold implant delivers hydrogen efficiently and has shown positive results in repairing bone defects in elderly mice. By altering the senescence micro-environment and providing a sustained release of hydrogen, this therapy has the potential to revolutionize anti-ageing treatments. Further research and development are crucial to unlock the full potential of continuous hydrogen supply as a universal anti-ageing technology.
