A new device which contains gold nanoparticles and may be able to kill tumour-ridden human cells has been created by a group of scientists from the University of Aveiro and promises to become a possible treatment for cancer.
The tool is able to introduce the particles into the patient’s body which then accumulate on the affected cells. The cells can then be destroyed by irradiation from ultraviolet lighting, which is absorbed by the particles.
However, to find a way to not affect the healthy cells in the process is the main struggle that confronts the researchers.
The new discovery has not yet been tested on cells and is still at an early stage of its development. Laboratory cells will be used for the first experiment, followed by animal testing.
