Nanoparticles from tea leaves destroy lung cancer cells

The study, conducted by scientistsoSwansea University, whichoWith the support ofoThe researchers worked with colleagues from twooch Indian universityow – KSR Institute of Technology and Bharathiar University – showed that nanoparticles derived from tea leaves inhibit the growth of comorek cancerous lungs, destroying up to 80 percent of the. of them. Syndromeoł made the discovery while testing a new method for producing quantum dots.

Quantum dots are a type of nanoparticle ranging in length from twooch to five nanometersow. For leeksownania, antibodies thatore the immune system each of us uses to attack harmful viruses or bacteria, are ten nanometers wideow, and human hair has about 40,000 nanometersoin the wide.

Quantum dots have been known to science since the 1970s. last century, but for a long time they were a purely theoretical product. Developoj technology has made it possible to create such nanoparticles. The extremely small size gives quantum dots unique properties. These are crystalline structures made of materialoat poł conductive. They absorb and emit radiation only at a well-defined energy. Because in a similar wayob with light interact atoms, quantum dots are often called artificial atoms.

Although nanoparticles are already being used in healthcare, quantum dots have only recently attracted the attention of researchers. They may find applications in many fields. From the computeroIn and photovoltaic cells to cancer imagingoin and their treatment.

Quantum dots can be produced chemically, but it is a complicated and expensive process, and has toxic side effects. Led by scientists from Swansea University teamoł researcher sought a new, non-toxic, plant-based alternative method for making quantum dots. This is how the scientists reached for the tea leaf extract.

Tea leaves contain many rotiesow, including polyphenols, amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants, but this does not mean that tea infusion cures lung cancer. The researchers mixed tea leaf extract with other chemicals, such as cadmium sulfate and sodium sulfide, and allowed the resulting solution to incubate. Acquired in this wayob quantum dots wyproThey were running on a comorks of lung cancer. It turned out to be a hit.

The researchers observed that the nanoparticles produced from the tea leaves inhibited the growth of comorek of lung cancer. They penetrated through small pores in the outer membrane of the comorec cancerous tumors and destroyed up to 80 percent of the. of them. Comocancer cells could not replicate. The discovery surprised researchers. They did not expect such a good result.

– Our research has confirmed previous evidence that tea leaf extract can be a non-toxic alternative for creating quantum dots. The real surprise, however, was that the dots actively inhibited the growth of comorek lung cancer. We did not expect this. In addition, they showed exceptional fluorescence emission in the process of bioimaging the comorek cancer cells in poroIn comparison to conventional nanoparticles – said Sudhagara Pitchaimuthu of Swansea University, author of the study, whichore appeared in the pages of ”Applied Nano Materiale”.

Left comorki of lung cancer, on the right the same cellsorki treated with quantum dots from tea extract. Photo. Swansea University

– Quantum dots are thus a very promising avenue for developing new cancer treatments. They may also have other possible uses, such as in antimicrobial paint used in operating rooms or in sunscreens – added the scientist.

Researchers have already outlined the next steps of the study. Now they want to create a whole factory of quantum dots, whichora will allow for more thorough research. – Building on this exciting discovery, the next step is to scale up our activities. We want to explore the role of tea leaf extract in imaging comore cancer and the linking of quantum dots to comocancerous rk – explained Pitchaimuthu.

The UK study does not mean that a miracle cure for cancer has been discovered. Inhibiting growth and destroying comocancer rek under laboratory conditions is a huge achievement, but further research on quantum dots from tea leaves needs to be done. Researchers have succeeded in overcoming two major difficulties associated with these nanoparticles – The cost of making them (according to earlier technologies, up to 500 poundsow per microgram) and toxic side effects.

– Until now, we have been killing comorks only on a petri dish, directly introducing into diseased comorek our dots. We now need to identify the enzyme, whichory can deliver them to tumoroIn living organisms, without affecting surrounding healthy tissues – admitted Pitchaimuthu. At the same time, he added, it could take years to develop a drug. – We hope to begin extensive laboratory tests soon. For this, clinical trials in humans, whichore will last about twooch years. If all poyd well, perhaps in ten years we can have a ready-made treatment – said.