C60 Fullerene Protects Brain Cells in Diabetic Rats

A research study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience in 2021 by Ghaffari et al. investigates how pristine C60 fullerene nanoparticles, a type of carbon molecule, can protect brain cells in rats with diabetes. The study, shows that C60 fullerene reduces damage caused by high blood sugar in the hippocampus, a brain area important for memory and learning.

In simple terms, diabetes can harm the brain by causing high blood sugar, which creates harmful molecules (oxidative stress) and triggers excessive cell death (apoptosis) or faulty cell cleanup processes (autophagy). These can lead to memory loss or nerve damage. The researchers tested C60 fullerene, dissolved in olive oil, on diabetic rats for 12 weeks. They found that C60 lowered oxidative stress, reduced harmful cell death by adjusting proteins like Caspase-3 and Bcl-2, and balanced autophagy by regulating proteins like Beclin-1 and LC3I/II. This helped protect hippocampal cells and prevent brain damage. In non-diabetic rats, C60 had no effect on these processes, showing it specifically helps in diabetic conditions.

This study highlights C60’s potential as a protective agent for brain health in diabetes. By acting as an antioxidant and balancing cell processes, C60 fullerene could offer a new way to prevent diabetes-related brain complications, potentially leading to future treatments.

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