Research & development
Fighting cancer with Aussie gold GOLD INDUSTRY GROUP MEMBER EVOLUTION MINING HAS PARTNERED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND TO PROPEL THE USE OF GOLD NANO SENSORS IN EARLY CANCER DETECTION AND RESEARCH INTO LONG HAUL COVID-19 IMMUNE RESPONSE.
Members of UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology team.
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ustralia’s gold miners are significant contributors to the health of our economy, with a record 327 tonnes produced last year. While the financial benefits are prevalent, the precious metal has also emerged as a key part of medical research applications using nanotechnology. The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology has proven this by developing a gold nanoparticles blood test that reveals early signs of cancer. This was uncovered by UQ researchers Abu Sina, Laura Carracosa and Matt Trau, who discovered a DNA signature that is common
among all cancers. By analysing patterns of molecules in DNA signatures (methyl groups), the researchers found that cancer cells cause these molecules to cluster together in specific locations and fold up into three-dimensional nanostructures that stick to gold. “The inertness of gold, as well as its unique chemical and physical properties makes it ideal for many of our medical applications,” Trau tells Safe to Work. To advance the research, gold miner Evolution Mining committed to a partnership with UQ which has now pivoted into researching long-haul COVID-19 immune response. “Evolution is pleased to be able to support this Australian research and
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Australian innovation using Australian gold. We are eager to share our innovative partnership with UQ with the rest of the gold industry,” Evolution vice president sustainability Fiona Murfitt says. “UQ’s research offers an opportunity for Evolution to contribute to the health of the communities we operate in, to the wider world, and to demonstrate the relevance of gold now and in the future through an innovative project.” Despite the initial setbacks of COVID-19, the researchers marched on thanks to Evolution’s support. “In a climate where research funding for blue sky projects is shrinking, the funding received from Evolution Mining was absolutely pivotal to stabilise and grow our research,” Trau says. “It was also pivotal to receive these precious funds to continue to grow our work during the COVID-19 economic downturn/uncertainty.” After successfully using gold for cancer detection, the team focused on developing the Immuno-Storm Chip, which monitors the immune system overresponse at 1000 times the sensitivity of conventional technology. It is designed to show whether patients are at risk of an uncontrolled immune response that can damage body tissues, and once again, the use of gold was pivotal in the study. Trau and his team have created a tiny array of gold pillars and attached antibodies that stick to cytokine molecules in blood samples, which can
