Current News Releases
Oct. 25, 2007
University of South Carolina research licensed by Nanopartz
Too small to see but not too small to pack a powerful punch, gold nanorods may become a valuable ally in medical treatment, including early detection of cancer and the shrinking of tumors.
Nanopartz Inc. has developed a new line of gold nanorods using patent-pending technologies developed by Dr. Cathy Murphy, a chemistry professor at the University of South Carolina, and Dr. Eugene Zubarav of Rice University.
Nanorods are expected to have particular application in medical diagnostics, biomedical imaging and medical treatments involving heat. Specific uses include the ability to detect cancer, treat macular degeneration and detect biomolecules and biodefense agents. Nanorods also can be used to destroy solid cancer tumors by targeting the tumor and its blood vessels without causing significant damage to healthy tissue.
Gold nanoparticles are among the most widely used classes of nanomaterials for chemical, bioanalytical, biomedical, optical and nanotechnological applications. Nanopartz Inc. is the only known commercial source for gold nanorods.
Dr. Cathy Murphy and a research partner have developed technologies to produce gold nanorods.
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