Gold nanoparticles has a huge potential in cancer detection and treatment: they could function as in vivo sensors, photoactive agents for optical imaging, drug carriers, contrast enhancers in computer tomography and X-ray absorbers in cancer therapy.

Because gold nanoparticles have a high surface reactivity and biocompatible properties, they can be used for in vivo (inside the bod)) molecular imaging and therapeutic applications, including cancer detection and therapy.

The promise of nanomedicine comes from the high surface area and size relationships of nanoparticles to cells, making it possible to target individual cells for diagnostic imaging or therapy

The setback however, is turning gold nanoparticles into a stable, non-toxic form that can be injected into a patient.

Now, a research team from the University of Missouri-Columbia has found a plant extract that can be used to overcome this problem - creating a stable and non-toxic gold nanoparticle that can be administered orally or intravenously.

The "magic" substance to do that would be gum arabic from species of the acacia tree - the same substance that is already being used in the stabilization of everyday foods such as yogurt, Big Macs and soda.

[Gum arabic has unique structural features, including a highly branched polysaccharide structure consisting of a complex mixture of potassium, calcium and magnesium salts derived from arabic acid.]

The study findings, which could lead to the development of readily injectable, stable and non-toxic gold nanoparticles, are described in a paper (entitled: "Gum arabic as a Phytochemical Construct for the Stabilization of Gold Nanoparticles: In Vivo Pharmacokinetics and X-ray Contrast-Imaging Studies) recently published in the February edition of the journal Small.

Find more details from the full report. Read the article abstract here.

[Photo Credit: nanotechweb.org]