Tuesday, 27th February 2007 (3893 views)

Gold nanoparticles are helping in the search for new cancer treatments and detection systems now that the discovery that plant gum can stabilise gold into a non-toxic substance.

Scientists at the University of Missouri-Columbia found a few weeks ago that gum arabic is capable of stabilising gold nanoparticles as well as the everyday foods like yogurt and hamburgers which is already stabilises.

Gum arabic coats the gold particles and makes them safe for injecting into human bodies. Once inside the gold is then used for molecular imaging and therapeutic applications because it has a high surface reactivity and biocompatible properties.

Professor Kattesh Katti, from the University of Missouri Cancer Nanotechnology Platform, said: "We found that gum arabic can effectively lock gold nanoparticles to produce non-toxic, nanoparticulate constructs that can be used for potential applications in nanomedicine."

Silver may also be used in similar nanoparticles form for medical applications of the future, according to the professor.

It is thought that gold could be used as a sensor inside the body or as an X-ray absorber during cancer therapies.

 

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