Chinese researchers uncover hydrogen's potential to reverse aging
What's the story
Chinese researchers have made a breakthrough in developing a hydrogen therapy that could potentially reverse age-related changes and prevent geriatric diseases. The scientists devised an implantable scaffold using nanotechnology that enhances hydrogen delivery efficiency by a factor of 40,000 compared to other methods, including drinking hydrogen-rich water or inhaling the gas. Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study threw light on delivering highly concentrated hydrogen molecules safely long enough to have a therapeutic effect.
Hydrogen
How hydrogen helps in anti-aging
Hydrogen is known to act as an anti-inflammatory agent, neutralizing toxic radicals associated with aging. It has a universal anti-senescence effect on several cells and tissues, helping them continue to replicate and grow. He Qianjun from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the study's corresponding author, said the scaffold was initially developed to repair bone defects in older adults but could potentially be used for other geriatric conditions and diseases, including Alzheimer's.
Effectiveness
Scaffold implant's effect on bone growth
According to Qianjun, the scaffold had "a significant effect in inducing bone growth compared to the blank scaffold that does not produce hydrogen." Senescence, or the progressive decline in biological processes that comes with growing older, is a primary contributor to many age-related illnesses and ailments. Hydrogen can "remodel" the senescence micro-environment during the early stage of inflammation and have a "continuing effect on later bone repair." The implant can release hydrogen slowly for up to a week.
Testing
The study was tested on mice
The implantable scaffold is biosafe, using products like hydrogen gas, metasilicate, and calcium ions. The scaffold was made by applying hydrolyzed calcium disilicide nanoparticles onto porous, bioactive glass. These were then coated with a biodegradable polymer to delay degradation or premature hydrogen release. They tested the apparatus on mice with femoral bone abnormalities that were 24 months old, which is equivalent to 70 human years. Reportedly, the prolonged treatment helped in repairing bone defects in older mice.
Applications
Future developments and potential applications
The team also looked into creating a scaffold with a longer period of release, which could be more effective for bone repair. Qianjun believes that a constant hydrogen supply will be a universal anti-aging technology that can treat various aging-related diseases, including treating and preventing diseases like Alzheimer's. Further development of high-performance materials to transfer hydrogen is "crucial," even though additional study is required.