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Nano research hits gold

5 August 2009

The use of gold nano-particles allows researchers to identify a small brain tumour (circled) using synchrotron X-ray imaging, something that has not been possible before.

When it comes to cancer research, finding the location of cells is thwarted by a lack of high-resolution imaging methods that can reveal the location of implanted stem cells within a living body.

However this is set to change thanks to the work of Dr Chris Hall from the Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science.

He is working in partnership with researchers from Italy, Canada and the Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories to develop a new X-ray imaging technique that will help researchers better understand the way the stem cells will behave and develop once they are inserted in the human body.

Dr Hall said the new technique involved the use of stem cells marked with gold nano-particles, which makes them visible using X-ray and synchrotron X- ray imaging allowing them to be tracked over a long period of time.

"The gold particles are less than 50 microns in size (or five hundredths of a millimetre) and are small enough to have no effect on the functioning of the cell, but are numerous enough to be visible in the phase contrast X-ray from the synchrotron," Dr Hall said.

"Through this we can locate stem cells that have been designed to treat disease and make repairs to the body's tissue, and in doing so verify if stem cells are moving away from where they are targeted."

Dr Hall said the novel imaging technique would allow the team to study the growth dynamics of diseases such as cancer, providing unique information for therapy planning in patients.

"It's a method that will greatly assist research in adapting such cells to repair damaged tissue, leading to more effective cancer treatments," Dr Hall said.

So far the work has taken place on the Synchrotron Radiation for Medical Physics beam line at the Italian synchrotron Elettra.

Dr Hall is optimistic that future research will take place using the Australian Synchrotron Imaging and Medical beamline when it comes on line in the near future.