Carbon quantum dots to protect the brain from pesticide-related damage
Development and testing of Carbon Quantum Dot architectures to arrest neurotoxicant-insult- related outcomes
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO · NIH-11161502
This project tests tiny carbon nanoparticles made from biowaste to protect nerve cells from pesticide-driven damage linked to Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (EL PASO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11161502 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will make carbon quantum dots using green methods and chemically modify them, then use lab-grown cells and animal models exposed to common pesticides to see if the dots reduce oxidative stress, prevent harmful protein clumping, and preserve nerve-cell function. They will measure mitochondrial health, levels of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, proteasome activity, and protein aggregates such as alpha-synuclein and amyloid-β, and will look for improvements in behavior in animal models. The current work is preclinical and does not recruit human volunteers, but is focused on mechanisms directly tied to human neurodegenerative diseases. Promising results could support future development of treatments or protective therapies for people exposed to environmental neurotoxicants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: In the future, the best candidates would likely be people with a history of pesticide exposure or those in early stages of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or Huntington’s disease.
Not a fit: People without relevant environmental toxicant exposure or those with very advanced neurodegenerative disease may be less likely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new therapies that reduce pesticide-driven neuron loss and help prevent or slow neurodegenerative disease onset.
How similar studies have performed: Carbon quantum dots have shown antioxidant and cell-protective effects in laboratory studies, but they remain largely untested in human neurodegenerative disease contexts.
Where this research is happening
EL PASO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO — EL PASO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: NARAYAN, MAHESH — UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO
- Study coordinator: NARAYAN, MAHESH
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.