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Written By: Agencies | Updated : August 24, 2015 10:46 AM IST
Nuclear energy is known to be a reliable, efficient, cheap and also the most eco-friendly forms of energy and many countries are now exploring it as an alternative to the traditional forms of energy. However, the downside to this form of energy is the risk associated with human exposure. Nuclear disasters are not new to us. The disaster at Chernobyl in 1986 and the latest one at Fukushima in 2011 have shown how dangerous exposure to radiation can be. The increasing awareness among people about the perils of nuclear radiation raised a need to develop countermeasures that can prevent radiation damage and keep people alive.
In a bid to keep people safe, scientists have now developed a drug that combats the effects of nuclear radiation even 24 hours after the exposure and may help people The peptide drug TP508 acted on the gastrointestinal system and significantly increased survival and delayed mortality in mice even 24 hours after a lethal exposure. Severe effects of radiation exposure include GI toxicity syndrome in which radiation destroys the intestinal lining and as a result of which the body is unable to absorb water which leads to electrolyte imbalance, bacterial infection, intestinal leakage, sepsis and death. Radiation damages the crypt cells in the small intestines and colon. These cells are continuously replenished by the body for smooth working of the GI tract. These cells are easily susceptible to radiation and are also an important indicator of whether someone will survive after a total body exposure to radiation.
Darrell Carney, a professor at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) explained that since radiation-induced damage to the intestine plays a key factor in predicting how well the person recovers from radiation exposure, developing drugs that are capable of preventing GI damage is the need of the hour. The drug TP508 was developed for use in stimulating repair of skin, bone and muscle tissues. the drug repairs the skin tissue by stimulating proper blood flow, reducing inflammation and reducing cell death.
During the clinical trials, it was found that this drug hastens the healing of diabetic foot ulcers and wrist fractures with no drug-related adverse effects. 'The current results suggest that the peptide may be an effective emergency nuclear countermeasure that could be delivered within 24 hours after exposure to increase survival and delay mortality, giving victims time to reach facilities for advanced medical treatment,' said lead author Carla Kantara, a postdoctoral fellow from UTMB. The study was published in the journalLaboratory Investigation.
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