SAN FRANCISCO – The detonation of a suitcase-sized nuclear bomb by a terrorist in a major city would spread toxic material over a wide area exposing humans to various types of radioactive elements. Currently, there are no effective methods to sequester and remove radionuclides from humans in the event of a disaster such as this. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientist Tatiana Levitskaia is investigating a unique approach based on a readily available biomaterial that might be used to reduce an individual's radiation dose. Levitskaia reported on the technology at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Chitosan is a natural and safe material found to be an effective chelator for a wide range of nuclides. Chitosan is obtained from chitin and found in the exoskeletons of many invertebrates such as crabs and prawns. It's one of the most abundant, readily available and renewable natural biopolymers, second only to cellulose. Some chitosan materials can be chemically modified to enhance their affinity to particular radionuclides. By binding to radionuclides, scientists speculate that chitosan may suppress deposition in bones and critical organs like the liver and kidney, and accelerate removal from the body. Levitskaia's research is directed toward finding a natural chelator like chitosan that can safely and effectively rid the body of diverse radionuclides such as actinides, cobalt, strontium, and radium. Currently, Levitskaia's investigation involves the removal of cobalt from living tissues in laboratory rats. Results are expected this fall.
Tatiana Levitskaia will make her presentation at the 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Francisco, CA, Thursday, September 14, at 9:00 a.m., at the Moscone Convention Center in Room 250.