The world"s first antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning has been created

Breakthrough in medicine: scientists create a "sponge" to save from carbon monoxide

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have developed a revolutionary protein drug capable of effectively neutralizing carbon monoxide poisoning. The results of this promising research have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Carbon monoxide, formed during incomplete fuel combustion, poses a deadly danger in enclosed spaces — whether it's faulty gas boilers, operating gasoline generators, or cars in garages. Existing treatment methods using oxygen therapy are not effective enough — about half of surviving patients suffer from long-term damage to the heart muscle and brain.

The innovative drug RcoM-HBD-CCC functions like a molecular sponge, rapidly extracting carbon monoxide from the bloodstream. It is based on the natural protein RcoM, which the bacterium Paraburkholderia xenovorans uses to detect minute concentrations of carbon monoxide. Scientists have modified this protein to selectively bind carbon monoxide molecules without interfering with the transport of oxygen and other vital substances.

Laboratory tests on mice demonstrated that RcoM-HBD-CCC promptly removes carbon monoxide from red blood cells and is naturally excreted through the urinary system. An important advantage of the new drug is its minimal effect on blood pressure, unlike other protein antidotes that can cause dangerous hypertensive reactions.

"We see this as a potential emergency intravenous treatment that could be administered directly in the emergency department or even at the scene," emphasized study co-author Mark Gladwin.

The effectiveness of the drug is explained by the peculiarities of carbon monoxide interaction with hemoglobin. Carbon monoxide forms a bond with hemoglobin that is hundreds of times stronger than the bond with oxygen, which leads to the displacement of the latter and oxygen starvation of tissues. The new antidote intercepts carbon monoxide molecules, freeing hemoglobin for oxygen transport.

Researchers believe that the potential of RcoM-HBD-CCC goes beyond the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning. In the future, the drug may find application in severe anemia, massive blood loss, or for preserving donor organs before transplantation. However, additional studies are needed before clinical use to determine optimal dosages and confirm safety for humans.