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Friday, 23rd January 2009 (1653 views)

Gold has been used in a new technique created by US scientists to detect blood glucose.

The precise biosensor was devised by researchers at Purdue University, who anchored gold coated nanocubes to single-wall carbon nanotubes.

Timothy Fisher, a professor of mechanical engineering at the university, explained that the nanocubes act like tetherballs which conduct electrical signals.

And associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue Marshall Porterfield suggested that the gold technology has the potential to be developed further in medicine or other fields.

"It might have many other applications, including basic scientific research to study diseases and biological processes," he stated.

The study will feature in the January edition of the American Chemical Society Nano journal.

Meanwhile, physicist Marius Trouwborst has developed new mechanical switch using gold nanotechnology.

Mr Trouwborst rearranged gold atoms in order to make the breakthrough, which can be used "as functional building elements in the electronics of the future".

 

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