Ingredient in Big Macs & Sodas Stabilize Gold Nanoparticles

Gum arabic, a substance orginating from the acacia tree, is used to stabilize everyday foods such as yogurt, Big Macs, and soda. Gum arabic has a very unique structure, which includes a highly branched polysaccharide structure consisting of a complex mixture of potassium, calcium and magnesium salts derived from arabic acid. The researchers at MU found that gum arabic could be used to absorb and assimilate metals and create a "coating" that makes gold nanoparticles stable and nontoxic.

Gold nanoparticles have a high surface reactivity and biocompatible properties, which can be used for in vivo molecular imaging and therapeutic applications (cancer detection and therapy). The gold nanoparticles could function as in vivo sensors, photoactive agents for optical imaging, drug carriers, contrast enhancers in computer tomography and X-ray absorbers in cancer therapy. Until the discovery of the use of gum arabic to absorb and assimilate metals, scientists have been plagues with problems making nontoxic gold nanoparticle constructs.

The research team at MU found that gum arabic can "lock gold nanoparticles to produce nontoxic, nanoparticulate constructs that can be used for potential applications in nanomedicine." They were able to develop a new class of hybrid gold nanoparticles that are stable and can be administered orally or through IV.

I found this article to be quite interesting in the fact that an ingredient used to stablize such unhealthy foods could also be used to assist in gold nanoparticle development. With this new class of hybrid gold nanoparticles, nanoparticle treatment has become closer to being a medical treatment for the detection of cancer and/or imaging treatments. I find it amazing that the progress scientists are making in the nanotechnology world is quite positive and faster than I expected.

To read the full article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070226131523.htm