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Wednesday, 7th January 2009 (2081 views)

Gold nanotechnology is contributing to the development of more efficient medical applications, it has been claimed.

Writing for the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry's magazine, Hilda Coulsey and Alan Smith outlined the benefits that nanotech applications can bring to medical research.

The authors noted the work of Rice University's Naomi Halas and Jennifer West, which consists of using gold nanoshells to fight cancerous cells.

Nanotechnology makes it possible for these miniscule gold structures to target the cancer cells and destroy them using infrared light.

The articles stated that Ms Halas' and Ms West's work has led to the creation of a spin-off company called Nanospectra Sciences, which is set to commence trials using the nanoshells in humans.

Meanwhile, the Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network has encouraged organisations involved in the field to apply for millions of euros' worth of funding offered by the European Commission, the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council and the UK Technology Strategy Board.

 

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