In a groundbreaking discovery, American researchers have found a way to become completely sober within seconds. By administering various enzymes that immediately destroy alcohol in the body, the researchers have found a way to speed up the natural process of breaking down alcohol. Normally, the human body breaks down 0.1 to 0.2 per mille per hour. However, Yunfeng Lu, a professor of chemical and molecular biological engineering, and Cheng Ji, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Southern California, have found a way to become sober within seconds after years of research.
To conduct their study, the researchers intoxicated mice. One group of mice served as a control group, which was expected to become sober on its own. The other group of mice was given a cocktail of numerous alcohol-destroying enzymes, packaged in a small nanocapsule. In all treated mice, the per mille value dropped to a normal level within seconds, according to the researchers in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. The key to success is the nanocapsule, which allows the enzymes to enter the body. Previous attempts failed because the enzymes were absorbed by the body in the wrong places and could not be properly processed.
The use of nanocapsules as enzyme transporters could also enable the development of entirely new enzyme-based medications. The “sobering capsule” could be particularly beneficial for people suffering from alcohol poisoning. It could also be used after a night of heavy drinking. However, it is still unclear when the enzyme capsule will be tested in human research.
