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Monday, 29th June 2009 (1155 views)

Gold has been used by scientists in Canada in the development of new devices that could improve the area of diagnostic medicine.

A team at the University of British Colombia have added a layer of the precious metal measuring 100 nanometres in thickness to a slab of silicon nitrate, through which holes were then drilled using a laser.

This was part of the creation of a highly responsive sensor array, which can be used to detect biomolecules without the need for an additional optical label.

Once this had been completed, an antibody that attracts a biomarker protein known as PAX8 was attracted to the layer of gold found inside the pre-drilled holes.

The scientists discovered that the new device detected PAX8 up to six times faster than previous measurement techniques, something that could increase the speed at which diseases are diagnosed.

In related news, researchers at Cornell University recently announced they used nanotechnology to devise small containers that can deliver drugs into the bloodstream.

 

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