Detoxification of snake venom using ionizing radiation



Document title: Detoxification of snake venom using ionizing radiation
Journal: The journal of venomous animals and toxins
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000298545
ISSN: 0104-7930
Authors: 1
Institutions: 1Comissao Nacional de Energia Nuclear, Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares, Sao Paulo. Brasil
Year:
Volumen: 1
Number: 1
Pages: 7-10
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Experimental, aplicado
English abstract It is generally recognized that energy absorbed from ionizing radiation (gamma rays) can inactivate biological material in two ways. A direct effect occurs when the primary event, i. e., ionization, is produced in the molecule itself. This is the case when a compound is irradiated in dry state. When a compound is irradiated in a solution, the indirect effect joins the direct(9). Since water is the most abundant constituent of biological material, it is important to consider the species produced by excitation and ionization of water itself, and the reaction of these species with the target molecules of biological importance. This indirect effect results from the reactions among the studied molecules and the products of radiation interaction with water or other solvents. Highly reactive compounds, the so-called free radicals, which are formed undergo many reactions among themselves, with the dissolved gas, and with other molecules in the solution. With water, the excitation is less important than ionization which is followed within picoseconds by the formation of free hydroxyl radicals and hydrated electrons(2,4,16). Alexander & Hamilton(1) showed that irradiation of proteins has revealed damage to aminoacid side chains, production of new groups, splitting of peptide bonds and formation of intramolecular and intermolecular cross-links. With these results, it would be possible to use of ionizing radiation to change those protein molecules in order to improve some of their properties according to the necessity. On the other ha
Disciplines: Medicina
Keyword: Terapéutica y rehabilitación,
Toxicología,
Veneno de víbora,
Destoxificación,
Radiación ionizante,
Rayos gamma
Keyword: Medicine,
Therapeutics and rehabilitation,
Toxicology,
Snake venom,
Detoxification,
Ionizing radiation,
Gamma rays
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