Bionanoparticles in the Treatment of Glycation-Induced Secondary Complications of Diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes has become a major metabolic and endocrinological disorder. All types of diabetes have common features like hyperglycemia and glucotoxicity. Hyperglycemia leads to accumulation of undesired products due to excess amount of glucose present in the body. The carbonyl group of glucose interacts with amino group of nitrogenous compounds like proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. This interaction leads to generation of deleterious products, commonly known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These AGEs have been implicated in many pathophysiological diseases including diabetes. There has been a continuous effort by researchers to look for the technologies for early detection and effective prevention of glycation products. A few artificial and natural inhibitors have been designed to control the formation of AGEs. In recent times nanotechnology has emerged as reliable and sensitive technique for the diagnosis and treatment of secondary complications of diabetes. There are reports which signify the role of plant-mediated nanoparticles as sensors of glucose, glycated proteins, protein oxidation, and AGEs. This chapter deals with the recent advances in the field of glycation and applications of bio-nanotechnology in the detection, prevention, and treatment of glycation-induced secondary complications of diabetes.