Comparison the Effects of ZnO Nanoparticles and ZnO/Chitosan Nanocomposites on Diabetes-Induced Memory Impairment in Rats

Among different nanomaterials, ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO/Chitosan nanocomposites possessa special status due to their own merits such as high specific surface area, optical transparency,bio-compatibility, non-toxicity, chemical and photochemical stability, convenientfabrication, high-electron communication features and electrochemical activities [1]. MeanwhileZnO nanoparticles have biological activity [2]. Chitosan a polysaccharide biopolymer[3], derived from naturally occurring chitin, is extensively being investigated in field of biomedicalmaterial and drug delivery [4]. In this project, ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO/Chitosannanocomposites were synthesized, and their effectiveness in preventing diabetes-inducedmemory loss and lipid peroxidation was evaluated. ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO/Chitosannanocomposites reversed diabetes-induced cognition insufficiency in passive avoidance learningand memory task (P < 0.05). The brain lipid peroxidation (P < 0.001) was lower in bothgroups compared to the untreated rats. Moreover, treatment with both nanoparticles prohibitedlearning and memory deficits of diabetic groups; however, there was no significant differencebetween the groups treated with ZnO/Chitosan nanocomposites or of ZnO nanoparticles.In conclusion, both ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO/Chitosan nanocomposites were effective inpreventing diabetes-induced memory loss and lipid peroxidation.