Russian scientists have discovered that encapsulating gold nanoparticles in polymer capsules significantly increases their impact on tumors compared to pure nanostructures made of the precious metal, according to the MIPT press service.
Gold nanoparticles increase the overall effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cancer.
However, there is a challenge: the enzyme-like activity of nanoparticles rapidly decreases in biological environments due to particle aggregation. This problem can be solved by encapsulating the gold in polymer capsules.
Nanoparticles of precious metals are an analogue of the cellular enzyme catalase, which produces many active oxygen molecules. These disrupt the vital functions of cancer cells. Researchers hope that the approach they have developed will make it possible to create highly effective forms of photodynamic cancer therapy.
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