Posted 04.21.2010 at 5:14 pm
5 Comments
Too Much Gold
James Bond: Look lady, you were only supposed to use the gold nanoparticles on your face
Eon Productions
Nanotechnology's bright future has finally come up with a possible treatment for the dreaded pimples of our teen years. That has arrived in the form of gold nano-bombs which deliver a lethal dose of lauric acid to skin-dwelling bacteria responsible for that unsightly acne, according to UPI.
Lauric acid can convert into a compound which essentially destroys the outer lipid walls of bacteria, and is found in coconut oil and human breast milk. Bioengineers at the University of California-San Diego packaged the lauric acid inside of artificial microscopic sacs to become bacteria-busting nano-bombs.
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Science, Jeremy Hsu, acne, bacteria, gold nanoparticles, nano-bombs, nanoparticles, nanotech, nanotechnology, pimples, skinGold nanoparticles studding the outside of the nano-bombs prevent the sacs from fusing together, and also help them act as smart bombs to track down bacteria based on the skin's pH level and other microenvironment factors.
The nano-bomb liposomes shed their gold nanoparticles once they reach the acidic microenvironment of the bacterial membranes, and allow the lauric acid to do their dirty work and help clear up acne.
Such nanoparticles have also helped other researchers aim their lasers at brain parasites responsible for "crazy cat lady" syndrome. But we hope that researchers are keeping an eye out for any potential safety issues with applying gold nanoparticles to human faces.
[via UPI]
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That's a perfect picture for this article. Cracks me up. Not sure if a cream containing gold nanoparticles would actually look gold though. Or could this be something they put into a pill form?
It has to be applied directly to the pimple, so it will be some sort of topical cream or face wash. Also, you're right... there wouldn't be enough gold to actually appear gold colored, unless this is the most expensive face wash you can get.
@ mathematics
Rest assured that this will be th emost expensive face wash you can get. It might not look gold, but will be expensive lol
Unless this can actually 'cure' acne, it's going to be just a boutique treatment easily marketed but without any real need. We treat acne every day and with compliant patients our success rate for controlling acne is over 98%. Problem is, most insurance doesn't cover it so the entitlement mentality says it's not going to be treated unless someone else pays for it. Cool solution in search of a need. Heck, we've got patients worried that the nanoparticals (size) in our sunscreen will actually get into their brains...
Fresh pillow cases every night, a little bit of extra vitamin a and a little extra Zinc internally, aloe vera gel (WITHOUT glycerin added) to dry up excess oil, and a couple dabs of lauric acid-containing coconut oil spread onto freshly cleaned moist skin before bed will do the job for a whole lot of people --- without the need of costly gold, and costier nano-technology. Bonus points if you stop wearing make-up, which is often contaminated with bacteria.