The Natural-Mineral-Based Novel Nanomaterial IFMC Increases Intravascular Nitric Oxide without Its Intake: Implications for COVID-19 and beyond.

Tomohiro Akiyama,Takahiro Fujimoto,Shinnosuke Hatakeyama,Ryuhei Yamazaki,Tomohiro Nomura,Takamichi Hirata

doi:10.3390/nano10091699

Tomohiro Akiyama, Takahiro Fujimoto + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10091699

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Abstract

There are currently no promising therapy strategies for either the treatment or prevention of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), despite the urgent need. In addition to respiratory diseases, vascular complications are rapidly emerging as a key threat of COVID-19. Existing nitric oxide (NO) therapies have been shown to improve the vascular system; however, they have different limitations in terms of safety, usability and availability. In light of this, we hypothesise that a natural-mineral-based novel nanomaterial, which was developed based on NO therapy, might be a viable strategy for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. The present study examined if it could induce an increase of intravascular NO, vasodilation and the consequent increase of blood flow rate and temperature in a living body. The intravascular NO concentration in the hepatic portal of rats was increased by 0.17 nM over 35.2 s on average after its application. An ultrasonic Doppler flow meter showed significant increases in the blood flow rate and vessel diameter, but no difference in the blood flow velocity. These were corroborated by measurements of human hand surface temperature. To our knowledge, this result is the first evidence where an increase of intravascular NO and vasodilation were induced by bringing a natural-mineral-based nanomaterial into contact with or close to a living body. The precise mechanisms remain a matter for further investigation; however, we may assume that endothelial NO synthase, haemoglobin and endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factor are deeply involved in the increase of intravascular NO.

Highlights

Humanity is facing a great turning point in terms of its evolution
Many countries have deployed digital surveillance tools to prevent the spread of COVID-19 without implementing government surveillance mechanisms, which may entail a drift towards a regime of authoritarian or totalitarian surveillance and control [2]
It is well known that the activity of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) followed by nitric oxide (NO) production in the vascular wall is regulated by receptor-mediated signalling, such as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and acetylcholine (ACh), as well as protein partners, including heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), calmodulin (CaM) and caveolin-1 (Cav-1) [70]

Summary

Introduction

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global health emergency. According to the COVID-19 situation report published by the World Health Organization, on 30 May 2020, more than >5.8 million confirmed cases and 362,705 deaths across the world had been attributed to COVID-19 [1]. The explosive rise in the number of cases may overwhelm hospitals and collapse healthcare systems. The global lockdown of >3.5 billion people (almost half the global population) may disrupt the economy, businesses and employment in unprecedented ways. COVID-19 could lead to both the collapse of healthcare systems and societal destruction, including at the levels of the economy, politics, culture, households and the individual

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