Introduction
Palladium DNA Reductase (PDR) is a formulation of palladium lipoic acid liquid crystal polymer under active clinical investigation as an oral chemotherapeutic. Opportunistic interference with radiation sickness by this material has been reported (1). I now report an attempt at observing the interaction of the liquid crystal form of PDR with X-radiation.
Methods
PDR stock solution was standardized for clinical study in January 1994, with minor variations in pH adjustment since that time. This sterile solution contains small amounts of stabilizers and buffers and total concentration is 25.3 mg/ml. The material is finalized at pH 7.8
Three samples of 10.0 ul. PDR solution each were streaked evenly on three clean glass microscope slides at a fluid thickness that required eight minutes to dry. As soon as the slide was prepared it was subjected to the following X-radiation:four minutes at 45 KVP and 10 ma at 2 cms distance from the source.
After the irradiation the slides were allowed to dry. The dried slides were examined under phase microscopy.
Results
Alterations of the usual microscopic structure were a function of the closeness of the slide area to the point of irradiation. The normal fern structure of PDR is seen (Fig.1)
As we look further in from the periphery the fern structure can be seen to begin to fracture (Fig.2). These fractures become more severe in the areas closer to the central axis of irradiation (Fig.3). Finally at the central axis of irradiation we see the complete destruction of the fern and appearance of a triangular prismatic subunit (Figs.4,5), and finally an amorphous granular degeneration.
These changes are the result of the absorption of X-ray energy. the relative importance of this process needs to be evaluated by animal studies. The data sought is how much radiation, and what kinds of radiation, can a standard dose of PDR mitigate to improve survival and protect tissues from degeneration. A variety of radiation challenges will have to be considered in designing these experiments.
Reference
1. Garnett,M., Remo,J.L., DNA Reductase: A Synthetic Enzyme With Opportunistic Clinical Activity Against Radiation Sickness, Int'l Symp. on Applications in Chemical and Biological Defense, Orlando, May 2001, p.41.
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