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Monday, 12th January 2009 (1646 views)

Scientists at Northwestern University have used gold nanoparticles to create a method of improving cholesterol levels.

A team at the institution have developed synthetic high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is sometimes referred to as 'good cholesterol', using minuscule particles of gold.

Researcher Chad Mirkin explained that drugs are available to lower 'bad' cholesterol but it is much harder to develop ways of raising levels of good cholesterol.

In order to achieve this, the team attached lipids and proteins to tiny particles of gold to create lipoprotein nanoparticles.

Professor Mirkin noted that HDL is a natural nanoparticle and the scientists had "mimicked" it.

Assistant professor Shad Thaxton commented: "Our hope is that, with further development, our synthetic form of HDL could be used to increase HDL levels and promote better health."

It comes after physicists at Harvard University used gold nanoparticles to help them test the repulsive Casimir force theory, which scientists have not had the technology to examine before now.

 

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