Tuesday, 10th January 2006 (4718 views)

Researchers at the North Carolina State University have announced they are working on new techniques that test how gold nanoparticles could be constructed for use in gene therapy efforts.

Currently, scientists are using nanocrystal-particles for the job, which allow genetic material to be "scaffolded", making it easy for the necessary information to be guided to a cell's nucleus - which is the key to gene therapy.

These nanoparticles are made of titanium-oxide, which should prevent a human's immune system from rejecting them.

However, researchers are also looking into other materials, such as gold, which would also be suitable for use in the human body.

Speaking about the technology, Daniel Feldheim of North Carolina State University, said: "The hope is that nanoparticles will be able to incorporate some of the useful features of a viral vector … without the concern that they'll cause a negative immune reaction."

Currently, nanotechnology in this capacity is approximately two years away from animal testing, but researchers remain hopeful that the ideas will become reality.

 

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