Silver Stackers

[The GidDy uP Kid]

Silver for treating infections in body
Wednesday, July 9th 02:44 PM IST

Piggybacking drugs on silver particles that pierce tumor cells and offload the chemicals is not a new idea, but a uniquely designed nanoparticle offers improvements over current techniques, technology may make it possible to use silver nanoparticles in treating infections anywhere in the body, according to researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

NEW YORK(Bullion Street): Piggybacking drugs on silver particles that pierce tumor cells and offload the chemicals is not a new idea, but a uniquely designed nanoparticle offers improvements over current techniques, technology may make it possible to use silver nanoparticles in treating infections anywhere in the body, according to researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

For instance, if the drug/nanoparticle bullet does not reach the intended tumor, an etching technique on the nanoparticle will disassemble if it stays outside living cell walls. The method leaves behind only the intact nanoparticles and the drug which now has been broken down and made inert by biocompatible chemicals contained on the bullet. Doctors can then ‘see’ the nanoparticles through imaging techniques using fluorescent dyes and discover if they have reached their target or not.

This method for removing nanoparticles unable to penetrate target cells is unique, said Gary Braun, a postdoctoral associate in the Ruoslahti Lab in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCDB) and at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. “By focusing on the nanoparticles that actually got into cells, we can then understand which cells were targeted and study the tissue transport pathways in more detail. It also minimizes the off-target toxicity by breaking down the excess nanoparticles so they can then be cleared through the kidneys.”

“These new nanoparticles have some remarkable properties that have already proven useful as a tool in our work that relates to targeted drug delivery into tumors,” said Lab Director Erkki Ruoslahti, adjunct distinguished professor in UCSB’s Center for Nano medicine and MCDB department and at Sanford-Burnham. “They also have potential applications in combating infections. Dangerous infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to all antibiotics are getting more common, and new approaches to deal with this problem are desperately needed. Silver is a locally-used antibacterial agent and our targeting technology may make it possible to use silver nanoparticles in treating infections anywhere in the body.”

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