Gold nanorods 'could help H1N1 treatments'

Laboratory scientists may be interested to learn their peers are currently exploring new ways of treating flu viruses - such as the H1N1 illness - using gold nanorods.

Researchers at the University at Buffalo (UB) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are claiming the delivery of vaccines could be made much easier using the technology.

According to a paper published by the experts, ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules prompt strong immune responses towards influenza by boosting the production of interferons.

However, these single-strand particles are unstable when introduced into cells, but they noted gold nanorods can provide an efficiency vehicle for the cells.

Co-author Paul Knight said: "The gold nanorods protect the RNA from degrading once inside cells, while allowing for more selected targeting of cells."

It comes in the same week as the US Food and Drug Administration approved a new test for identifying the H1N1 virus in patients with respiratory problems.