Thursday, 18th May 2006 (1309 views)

Gold and silver could be used to measure the amounts of drugs absorbed by cancer cells, new research has found.

Scientists at the NanoBiotechnology Centre at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York managed to synthesise nanosized composite particles from spherical nanosized polymers that could make measuring drug uptake by cancer cells easier.

Traditionally this measuring has been done using dyes, but that process is problematic because the dyes often break down and can be toxic.

Research leader Dr Lajos P Balogh, PhD, co-director of the Roswell Park centre, said: "These nanocomposites are non-toxic, fluorescent, water soluble and stable at biologic pH levels.

"Further, their surface properties can be adjusted, which is important because it is the surface that primarily determines how nanoparticles interact with cells."

The nanocomposites were able to interact with cells due to their surface charge, with positively charged nanodevices being internalised the most.

Dr Balogh highlighted the potential of gold and silver nanocomposites being useful as potential "quantifiable cell biomarkers".

 

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