Melanin nanoshells for protection against radiation and electronic pulses

Abstract

This invention provides melanin nanoshells and their use for protection against radiation, particularly ionizing radiation, and electronic pulses, and methods of making materials comprising melanin nanoshells.

1 . A nanoshell comprising melanin. 
     
     
         2 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell comprises polymerized L-dopa, epinephrine, methyldopa and/or a phenolic derivative that polymerizes into melanin. 
     
     
         3 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell comprises synthetic melanin. 
     
     
         4 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell comprises melanin isolated or derived from a biological source or generated by chemical synthetic process. 
     
     
         5 . The nanoshell of  claim 4 , wherein the biological source is a plant, an animal, a fungus and/or a microorganism. 
     
     
         6 . The nanoshell of  claim 4 , wherein the biological source is a melanin-containing fungus, bacterium, or cell. 
     
     
         7 . The nanoshell of  claim 6 , wherein the fungus is  Cryptococcus neoformans  and/or  Histoplasma capsulatum.    
     
     
         8 . The nanoshell of  claim 1  comprising allomelanin, pheomelanin and/or eumelanin. 
     
     
         9 . The nanoshell of  claim 1  comprising pheomelanin and eumelanin, wherein the ratio of pheomelanin to eumelanin is at least 1:1. 
     
     
         10 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the melanin contains divalent sulphur. 
     
     
         11 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell comprises a nanosphere, a nanotube, a nanoellipsoid, a nanoball and/or a nanorod. 
     
     
         12 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell has a thickness of about 10 nm to about 1,000 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell has a thickness of about 100 nm. 
     
     
         14 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell has a linear attenuation coefficient for radiation that is at least 100-fold higher than that provided by powdered melanin that is not formed as a nanoshell. 
     
     
         15 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell has a linear attenuation coefficient for radiation that is at least 1,000-fold higher than that provided by powdered melanin that is not formed as a nanoshell. 
     
     
         16 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell has a linear attenuation coefficient for radiation that is at least 10,000-fold higher than that provided by powdered melanin that is not formed as a nanoshell. 
     
     
         17 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell has a linear attenuation coefficient for radiation that is at least 10-fold higher than that provided by lead. 
     
     
         18 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell has a linear attenuation coefficient for radiation that is at least 100-fold higher than that provided by lead. 
     
     
         19 . The nanoshell of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoshell has a linear attenuation coefficient for radiation that is at least 500-fold higher than that provided by lead. 
     
     
         20 . A method of protecting an object or a subject from radiation and/or from electronic pulses, where the method comprises providing melanin nanoshells between the object or subject to be protected and a source of the radiation and/or electronic pulses. 
     
     
         21 - 79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . A method of making a material comprising melanin nanoshells, where the method comprises fabricating melanin nanoshells into or onto the material. 
     
     
         81 - 109 . (canceled) 
     
     
         110 . A material comprising melanin nanoshells of  claim 1  fabricated in or on the material. 
     
     
         111 - 135 . (canceled)