Mohali institute uses Aspirin nano-particles for non-surgical, economical prevention of cataract

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 3

Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have developed nano-rods from Aspirin, a popular medication used to reduce pain, fever or inflammation, for non-invasive treatment against cataract.

The delivery of the Aspirin nano-rods to treat cataract non-invasively will be in the form of eye drops. The research can help prevent cataract in an economical and less complicated way.

A cataract is a major form of blindness that occurs when the structure of crystalline proteins that make up the eye lens deteriorates, causing damaged or dis-organised proteins to aggregate and form a milky blue or brown layer that ultimately affects lens transparency.

“Prevention of the formation of these aggregates as well as their destruction in the early stage of the disease progression is a major treatment strategy for cataract and materials that can carry out this task can make cataract prevention affordable and accessible,” the Ministry of Science and Technology said.

This easy to use and low-cost alternative non-surgical treatment will benefit patients in developing countries, who cannot access expensive cataract treatments and surgeries.

The INST team used the anti-aggregation ability of Aspirin nano-rods as an effective non-invasive small molecule-based nano-therapeutics against cataract. Aspirin nano-rods prevent the aggregation of crystalline protein and other matter which play a crucial role in cataract formation through bio-molecular interactions.

With ageing and under various conditions, the lens protein crystalline aggregates to form opaque structures in the eye lens, which impairs vision and cause cataract. The targeted disaggregation of the accumulated crystalline in aged and cataractous human lenses is considered as a viable therapeutic strategy for the prevention of cataract formation.

The Aspirin nano-rods are produced using the process of molecular self-assembly, which is a low cost and high–yield technique to generate the Aspirin nano-rods as compared to the high-cost and laborious physical methods generally used for the synthesis of nano-particles.

Computational studies based on molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the molecular mechanism of Aspirin’s anti-aggregation behaviour and the nature of protein interaction. The scientists observed that the interactions eventually transformed the matter responsible for cataract formation into various coils and helixes, thereby preventing their aggregation.

Many natural compounds have already been reported as potential aggregation inhibitors but the utility of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin will open a new paradigm.

In addition, due to their nano size, Aspirin nano-rods will enhance bio-availability, improve drug loading and lower toxicity.