Cancer Detectives

Photo courtesy of Dr. Ivan El-Sayed Non-cancerous cells don't attract gold as strongly so the particles are scattered over the cell.

Unlike buying gold in visible amounts, using nanoparticles of gold to detect cancer is also very inexpensive, and the process is simple and instantaneous. The only equipment that the researchers needed was a modified student microscope and white light. Because gold scatters light so strongly, the cancer cells sprayed with the gold nanoparticles were immediately visible. This is extremely advantageous for detecting cancer early on and preventing it from spreading.

To perfect the technique for mainstream use, further research is being carried out. "We need to develop appropriate imaging systems, and to determine the best way to deliver the particles to sites of interest," says Ivan El-Sayed. Although the research has been conducted on cells in the laboratory, the researchers are hoping that in the future, the nanoparticles can be injected into the body where they will attach to the cancer cells. Then, low-level lasers can safely kill the gold-coated cancer cells, while leaving the healthy cells unharmed. The researchers also hope that this method could be used to study cellular interactions.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Ivan El-Sayed Dead cancerous cells (blue): They were killed much more easily when coated with gold nanoparticles.

In the meantime, the research team has already started to develop such uses for the gold nanoparticles and is working on using them to actually kill the cancerous cells. "The work with gold as a detection agent is just getting started because there are so many possibilities to explore," Ivan El-Sayed says.

For more info:

Gold Nanoparticles May Simplify Cancer Detection
http://www.gatech.edu/news-room/release.php?id=561

Researchers demonstrate use of gold nanoparticles for cancer detection
http://pub.ucsf.edu/newsservices/releases/200506033/