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Tuesday, 24th March 2009 (1435 views)

Researchers at the University of Buffalo have used gold in the development of a new nanotechnology treatment for drug addiction.

Scientists have utilised the precious metal to develop a short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule that can disable production of a brain protein that plays a key role in drug dependence.

Researchers combined the siRNA molecules with gold nanorods in an attempt to discover a method of safely delivering the substance, in what could be the first time that nanorods made from the precious metal have been used with siRNA.

"We have demonstrated that we can use these gold nanorods to stabilise the siRNA molecules, take them across the blood-brain barrier and silence the gene," explained deputy director for biophotonics at the institute Indrajit Roy.

Elsewhere in the nanotechnology sector, researchers at the University of California have used hollow gold nanospheres in the development of a new treatment that could reduce instances of skin cancer.

 

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