Aspirin to Prevent Cataract

Aspirin to Prevent Cataract

Recently, scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST) have developed nanorods from the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Aspirin to prevent cataracts in an economical and less complicated way.

Aspirin is a popular medication used to reduce pain, fever, or inflammation and now it has been found to be an effective non–invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics against cataract.
INST is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.

Cataract:

It is a major form of blindness that occurs when the structure of crystallin proteins that make up the lens in human eyes deteriorates.
Such deterioration causes damaged or disorganised proteins to aggregate and form a milky blue or brown layer, which ultimately affects lens transparency.
As with aging and under various conditions, the lens protein crystallin aggregates to form opaque structures in the eye lens, which impairs vision and causes cataract.
Thus, prevention of the formation of these aggregates as well as their destruction in the early stage of disease progression is a major treatment strategy for cataracts.

Usage of Aspirin:

The scientists have used the anti-aggregation ability of self-build aspirin nanorods as an effective non –invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics against cataract.
It prevents the protein aggregation through biomolecular interactions, which convert it into coils and helices and consequently fail to aggregate.

Significance:

Aspirin nanorods due to their nano-size are expected to enhance bioavailability, improve drug loading, lower toxicity, etc. Hence, the delivery of the aspirin nanorods as eye drops is going to serve as an effective and viable option to treat cataract non-invasively. It is easy to use and a low-cost alternative nonsurgical treatment method and will benefit patients in developing countries who cannot access expensive cataract treatments and surgeries.

Source: PIB

Join Our Telegram

China’s Presence in South America

Bharat Air Fibre

Sun, Solar Missions & Solar Phenomenon

07 Nov, 21
SHARE

Sun, Solar Missions & Solar Phenomenon Context: This topic is important for UPSE Prelims and Mains GS Paper3. Aurora An aurora also known as the polar lights or aurora polaris, is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic&nb

Changes in the Prompt Corrective Action norms for bank

07 Nov, 21
SHARE

Changes in the Prompt Corrective Action norms for banks Context: This topic is important for UPSE GS Paper 3. What will commercial banks under scrutiny need to do to get out of the restrictions imposed by the central bank? The story so far: The RBI issued a notification on November 2 revising norms for commercial banks to be placed under t

Study on Countries’ commitment on Climate Change

07 Nov, 21
SHARE

Study on Countries’ commitment on Climate Change Context: This topic is important for UPSE GS Paper 3. The findings, while optimistic, come amidst the deliberations underway at Glasgow. How effective are climate change pledges made by countries in containing global warming? A study published Friday in the journal Science fin

National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZ)

28 Nov, 21
SHARE

About National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZ) The Government of India (GoI) has announced a National Manufacturing Policy, 2011, with the objective of enhancing the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25% within a decade and creating 100 million jobs. NIMZs are one of the important instruments to achieve it. As per the Policy, &ldqu

International Financial Services Center (IFSC)

29 Nov, 21
SHARE

What is an International Financial Services Center (IFSC)? An IFSC caters to customers outside the jurisdiction of the domestic economy. Such centres deal with flows of finance, financial products and services across borders. London, New York and Singapore can be counted as global financial centres. The&n