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Monday, 13th July 2009 (1272 views)

Gold nanoparticles are being used by scientists looking to find ways of reducing the unnecessary use of antibiotics to treat a variety of conditions and illnesses.

Researchers at National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) in Pune, India, are utilising nanotechnology to make antibiotics more efficient.

Gold salt is combined with antibiotics and water, leading to the production of gold nanoparticles tagged with molecules of antibiotics.

These gold nanoparticles can then be used as supporting agents for antibiotics to help them reach a specific part of the body more accurately as long as the antibiotics remain attached to each particle.

Pankaj Poddar of NCL told the Sakaal Times that imbibing more antibiotics than is necessary can lead to further health problems.

"This technology will help in absorption of the antibiotic molecule in the body in a better way," he explained, adding that gold has certain antibiotic properties in nano form.

NCL was founded in 1950. Its main areas of research include organic chemistry, polymer science, chemical engineering, biochemical sciences and materials chemistry.

 

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