Believe it or not, various precious metals shimmer in treasure chests and within the very fabric of our healthcare systems. For instance, gold has always been treasured not only for its beauty and value but also for its use in the medical field.
Gold nanoparticles offer great precision in delivering therapeutic agents directly to cancer cells without causing any damage to healthy tissues. With this, doctors can treat the cancerous cells with minimal effects on the patient. The first use of gold in medicines can be traced back to the ancient Han Dynasty . During this era, the aristocrats were known to use gold leaf or powder in herbal remedies or medicinal tonics.
The ancient Greeks valued gold not only for its aesthetic appeal but also for its therapeutic properties, recognizing its potential to promote healing and well-being.During the Roman Empire, gold was highly regarded for its medicinal properties. The physician and philosopher Galen, who made significant contributions to medical theory and practice, advocated for the use of gold in treating various diseases.
One of the key attributes of gold is its exceptional stability. Gold does not corrode or tarnish, unlike other metals, making it highly inert and resistant to degradation. This stability ensures that gold-based compounds remain intact and retain their therapeutic properties over extended periods, allowing for sustained and effective treatment.
Understanding the intricate mechanisms by which gold interacts with the human body provides valuable insights into the development of novel medical treatments. The exploration of gold's unique properties continues to drive innovative research, offering exciting possibilities for targeted therapies, imaging technologies, and personalized medicine.Gold holds great importance in the field of modern medicine. Its applications range from facilitating wound healing to aiding in cancer therapies.
Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology and Hackensack Meridian Health have developed a new drug delivery system using gold nanoparticles to deliver drugs to tumors with remarkable precision while dramatically reducing potential systemic side effects.