To validate their findings, the scientists injected the novel
nanoparticles into pancreatic tumor - bearing mice and observed that
by balancing these two targets —
bringing them to a normal level
by increasing their expression or blocking the gene responsible for their expression — they significantly prolonged the survival of the mice.
«This work demonstrates the unique capability of micro-to-nanoscale topographies of the crumpled graphene - Au
nanoparticles — higher density, three - dimensional optically active materials — that are further enhanced
by the formation of hot spots,
bringing the
nanoparticles closer,» explained Juyoung Leem, a graduate student and first author of the study, «Mechanically Self - Assembled, Three - Dimensional Graphene?Gold Hybrid Nanostructures for Advanced Nanoplasmonic Sensors,» published in Nano Letters.