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Wednesday, 14th January 2009 (4189 views)

A new device has been created using gold that could be utilised by doctors to help them reach parts of the body that are difficult to access.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have invented tiny structures made of gold and nickel that are the size of dust particles, which can be used to "grab and remove" cells in difficult-to-reach areas of the body.

This eliminates the need for medical professionals to use electrical wires, batteries or tubes as the devices are operated by biochemical or thermal signals, meaning they are remote and can access areas more readily.

Assistant professor David Gracias explained: "This is an important first step towards creating a new set of biochemically responsive and perhaps even autonomous micro and nanoscale surgical tools."

The work is featured in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences publication.

Recently, an article on the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry site noted that gold nanotechnology is contributing to the creation of more efficient medical applications.

 

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