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Thursday, 7th February 2008 (5925 views)

A new licensing agreement has been signed that could see nanoparticles with a core of noble metal, such as gold, applied to new therapeutic treatments, according to reports.

The worldwide license has been granted to the Spanish arm of UK biological nanoparticles specialist Midatech Group by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the Materials Science Institute of Seville.

It will allow Midatech to look how noble metal nanoparticles can be used with radiofrequency heating technology for treatments such as localised drug release and heat therapy to target drug-resistant bacteria and cancerous cells.

Noble metal nanoparticles are less than ten nanometres across and can be used to target specific tissues, cells or intracellular areas.

Midatech is currently carrying out toxicology studies on its new products and may take them to clinical trials later this year.

Tom Rademacher, Midetech Group's chairman, said: "This radiofrequency heating technology, when applied to our unique nanoparticle design, has exceptionally wide-ranging applications, a particular example being the use of localised heat to kill cancerous cells and drug-resistant bacteria."

Midatech Group designs and manufactures nanoparticles and nanocells for therapeutics, diagnostics and coating for microchips.

 

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