Context:
Cordy gold nanoparticles (Cor-AuNPs), the outcome of a collaborative experiment by scientists from four Indian institutions, has earned an international patent from Germany.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Cordy gold nanoparticles
- What is nanotechnology and nanoparticle (NP)?
- Uses of Gold Nano Particles (GNPs)
About Cordy gold nanoparticles
- Cordy gold nanoparticles (Cor-AuNPs) are derived from the synthesis of the extracts of Cordyceps militaris and gold salts.
- They could make drug delivery in the human body faster and surer.
- Cordyceps militaris is a high-value parasitic fungus, lab-grown at the Department of Biotechnology’s Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) in Bodoland University.
- Gold salts are ionic chemical compounds of gold generally used in medicine.
Advantages:
- Penetration in the cells is more when the drug particles are smaller.
- Cordyceps militaris adds bioactive components to the synthesis of gold nanoparticles for better penetration.
- It can be delivered as ointments, tablets, capsules, and in other forms.
What is nanotechnology and nanoparticle (NP)?
- Nanotechnology is a technology that creates new and novel materials through controlled manipulation at a size range of 1 nm (nanometer) to 100 nm (1 nm equals to 10-9 m).
- NanoParticles are those materials that are at least one dimension smaller than 100 nanometres.
- NPs have a high surface-to-volume ratio and they can provide tremendous driving force for diffusion, especially at elevated temperatures.
Uses of Gold Nano Particles (GNPs)
- GNPs are found to have greater solar radiation absorbing ability than the conventional bulk gold, which makes them a better candidate for use in the photovoltaic cell manufacturing industry.
- GNPs are capable of transferring various drugs made out of peptides, proteins, plasmid DNAs, small interfering RNAs, and chemotherapeutic agents to target diseased cells of the human body.
- GNPs are also found to be useful in the electronics industry.
-Source: The Hindu
