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Wednesday, 20th May 2009 (1203 views)

Nanotechnology can be used to improve the effectiveness of antibiotics, new research has revealed.

Scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine have determined that the technology - which often involves the use of gold - can be utilised to convert medicine from tablet to aerosol form.

Tests on mice infected with respiratory bacteria pseudomona aeroginosa have shown that spraying antibiotics contained inside nanocapsules is highly effective, as only half the regular dosage was needed to ensure the animals remained alive.

"During a 72-hour period, all of the infected control mice died, whereas all of the mice that received just two doses of SCC22-loaded nanoparticles spaced 24 hours apart survived," Dr Carolyn Cannon explained.

Researchers hope that the technology can be refined so that dosages can be reduced to a once-daily spray, which should help contain the spread of illnesses.

Elsewhere in the nanotechnology sector, Illinois-based NanoGuardian has unveiled technology that enables identification data to be embedded into pharmaceuticals.

 

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