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Friday, 18th August 2006 (5899 views)

A new "golden bullet" has been developed by scientists that could help in the treatment of cancer.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia found that gold nanoparticles could be used as part of a light sensitive drug that can be delivered to cancer cells. This drug compound can then target cancer cells and kill them by way of photodynamic therapy (PDT).

The process involves stimulating the drug with visible light, which results in the death of cancer cells but does not harm healthy tissue.

In vitro tests have shown that the drug-nanoparticle complexes can kill cervical cancer cells and the researchers now aim to take the process further.

"While our results are very encouraging, the next key phase of the work is to take the in vitro study to the in vivo environment," said the university's David Russell.

He explained that his research team was collaborating with a group in Padova.

Another PDT expert, David Philips, told the Royal Society of Chemistry: "This is a very useful, novel means of getting photosensitisers into cells," he added. "In this case the use of the gold nanoparticles enhances the singlet oxygen yield, so it is a real bonus."

 

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