theblackalchemist Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Soccer ball-shaped nanoparticles known as buckyballs may one day help to offer relief for allergy sufferers. Adapted buckyballs are capable of blocking the pathway mediating allergic responses in human immune cells, new research has revealed. Buckminsterfullerenes—spherical cages about 1-10 nanometres in size made up of 60 carbon atoms—have for years attracted interest from material scientists for their ability to make strong, lightweight materials with interesting electrical properties. But they could have medical uses too. It is known that buckyballs have a talent for mopping up reactive oxygen species called 'free radicals', which can play havoc with biological systems. "C60 has a very high electron affinity. It grabs electrons easily, so it can act to neutralise free radicals," explains James Cross, a chemist researching fullerenes at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut...[/Quote] More here- Times Of India TBA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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