Silver has long played an important role in the medical field. For centuries, it has been used as an antibacterial agent and to fight infections. Silver also serves an important role in x-ray and medical imaging. Now silver’s big brother, gold, is starting to muscle into the world of healthcare.
According to the market research firm Global Market Insights, the market size for gold nanoparticles is projected to reach $8 billion by 2022. As Forbes recently reported, gold’s increasing use in the healthcare industry will drive that growth. Gold nanoparticals are used in a wide range of medical applications, including imaging, diagnosis, drug delivery, photo-thermal therapy, and even as a coating for titanium-based dental implants.
In the most recent development, researchers have discovered gold nanoparticles can serve as a vehicle to deliver cancer medication directly into cancer cells. The drug shuts down a molecule called telomerase. This process keeps malignant cells from rejuvenating and growing out of control.
This post was published at Schiffgold on MAY 11, 2017.
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