Golden Nanotubes Detect Cancer

Gold-coated carbon nanotubes may hold promise as a lymphatic cancer diagnostic when used with advanced imaging methods. Biomedical researchers at the University of Arkansas–Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock found that coating carbon nanotubes with a thin layer of gold reduced toxicity and enhanced absorption of laser radiation, according to a statement from the Fayetteville campus. As a result, the coated nanotubes could provide a more efficient alternative to nanoparticles and fluorescent labels in detecting cancer cells and bacteria.