Abstract
The effectiveness of an amphoteric cryogel (AAC) as an oral sorbent (enerosorbent) for the treatment of acute poisoning of small animals (rats) with heavy metals (HMs) was studied in in vivo experiments. The morphological structure of the cryogel was examined using scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and confocal microscopy. The use of the cryogel in the treatment of rats administered an LD50 dose of Cd(NO3)2, CsNO3, Sr(NO3)2, or HgCl2 in aqueous solution showed their high survival rate compared to the control group, which did not receive such treatment. The histological and chemical analysis of internal tissues and the biochemical analysis of the blood of the experimental animals showed the effectiveness of the cryogel in protecting the animals against the damaging effect of HMs on the organism comparable with unithiol, a chelating agent based on 2,3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonic acid sodium salt (DMPS) approved for the treatment of acute poisoning with some heavy metals.
Highlights
Heavy metals and metalloids (HMs) are omnipresent in the environment in different forms and compositions
We evaluated the antidotal effect of a substituted acrylamide-based cryogel (AAC) by assessing its ability to eliminate some toxic metals administered to the small experimental animals at an LD50 dose
According to our previous studies, the cryogel used contains carboxylic, amide(I), amide(II), and amine functional groups that are involved in the chelation reaction with metal ions [30]
Summary
Heavy metals and metalloids (HMs) are omnipresent in the environment in different forms and compositions. Despite the fact that for a long time chelation therapy has been considered the most common method of treating acute heavy metal poisoning [23], there are no approved antidotes for the decorporation of certain radioisotopes from the human body, most notably radiostrontium. A special case is Prussian blue, which has high affinity with thallium and cesium It has been approved as the antidote against poisoning with these metals including radiocesium but it is not efficient in other HMs removal. Some chelators have a proven ability to remove various heavy metals and radioisotopes in acute cases, the investigation and study of new treatment methods and materials are essential especially for human protection against chronic HMs intake.
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