Huntington, W. Va.-based Marshall University researchers received a U.S. patent for a new sepsis treatment technique, which involves the use of cerium oxide nanoparticles.
Sepsis, a complication caused by the body's life-threatening response to an infection, occurs most often in people aged 65 years or older, according to the CDC.
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The new treatment involves the nanoparticles being injected into a vein after which they passively target liver Kupffer cells and then exert beneficial effects. Cerium oxide is typically used as a polishing agent for glass mirrors, sunscreens and ophthalmic lenses. However, they are also capable of acting as antioxidants, leading investigators to examine their potential clinical use.
"Current treatment strategies, which include the use of antibiotics, fluid resuscitation and additional support based on the symptoms, fail to address the needs of patients adequately," said Eric Blough, PhD, a professor at Marshall University's school of pharmacy and member of the research team. "With the increase in antibiotic resistance and emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens, current treatment modalities are increasingly being challenged. Our method for treating sepsis using cerium oxide nanoparticles addresses this aptly without any potential concern for antibacterial resistance."