Protective action of nanodiamonds against influence of ionizing radiation in rats

Abstract

Radiation protection ability of the ultra-disperse nanodiamonds (UDD) is studied based on the measurements of dielectric permittivity of red blood cells (RBC) affected by cancer. Wistar rats with Guerin's carcinoma were treated by X-ray 5.8 Gy. Some rats received UDD with food during 5 days prior to the X-ray. The groups with UDD, X-ray, and both UDD and X-ray treatments were compared to the control group. The complex dielectric permittivity of the RBC was measured by microwave dielectrometry. It was shown, tumor development leads to the increase in the dielectric permittivity and relaxation frequency. The irradiation promotes further growth of the parameters, while UDD uptake leads to insignificant changes in comparison to the control group. Therefore, UDD occur the radioprotective effect promoting repair, compensation and restoration of body tissues that is demonstrated by normalization of the dielectric parameters of RBC.