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Midatech secures exclusive position to exploit magnetic noble metal nanoparticles through new IP licenses

Technology has potential applications in bacterial infection and cancer

06 Feb 2008 - Midatech Andalucía S.L., a subsidiary of Midatech Group has signed an exclusive world-wide license agreement with the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) and the Materials Science Institute of Seville, which is a shared center of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) and the University of Sevilla (US). Acoording to the company, this license allows Midatech Andalucia to extend its world-leadership in the field of localised heating of mammalian, bacterial and plant cells. This extends Midatech's priority applications dating back to 2000 and 2003 respectively (WO 02/32404, WO 04/108165) to now include the important discovery of magnetic behaviour in noble metal nanoparticles.
 
Midatech's biocompatible nanoparticles have a range of unique characteristics that make them ideal for applications such as targeted drug delivery and diagnostic imaging. Their innate magnetic properties allow for localised drug release or cell apoptosis upon application of a radiofrequency electromagnetic field. Less than 10nm in diameter, these nanoparticles contain a noble metal (e.g. gold) core, and at this nano-scale exhibit ferromagnetic-like behaviour. Exposure to an alternating magnetic field causes the nanoparticle core to absorb the field energy, which is then released as heat or chemical energy. The nanoparticles can be targeted to specific tissues, cells or intracellular locations by molecular area coding.
 
"This radiofrequency heating technology, when applied to our unique nanoparticle design, has exceptionally wide-ranging applications, a particular example being the use of localised heat to kill cancerous cells and drug resistant bacteria (MRSA). The licensing of these patents has strengthened our extensive IP portfolio and further increases the scope of our technology development with regards to therapeutic nanoparticles", commented Professor Tom Rademacher, Chairman of Midatech Group.
 
Further proof of concept on the development of localised heating technology will be carried out at the CSIC, Seville, under R & D Agreement, under the direction of Professor Asunción Fernández, Head of the Nanostructured Materials group at the Materials Science Institute.