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Monday, 30th March 2009 (1311 views)

Gold can be used to produce nanoparticles suitable for delivering payloads into plant cells, new research has revealed.

According to Nanowerk News, silica and carbon nanoparticles can be created in order to introduce molecules into both walled cells and protoplasts.

However, combining nanoparticles with those made from the precious metal is necessary in order deliver molecules into intact plant cells, with a gene gun also needed to shoot the tiny particles into the plant cells.

The research was carried out by Xiaohong Fang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, who told the news source that the technique could have potential uses in the future.

"In the study of mammalian cells, carbon nanotubes have shown their ability to easily traverse across biological barriers such as cell membranes and even blood-brain barrier, with little cytotoxicity," she was quoted as saying.

In related news, researchers from the University of Missouri have claimed that adding gold salts to tea can help treat cancer, as the precious metal reacts with the drink in a way that could help destroy tumours.

 

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