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Ƶ scientists have created an innovative method for producing bismuth nanoparticles used in cancer therapy
21 November

Scientists from the Department of Nanostructured, Fibrous and Composite Materials named after A.I. Meos and the Department of Physics of the Ƶ (Ƶ) have developed a new method for producing bismuth nanoparticles, a chemical element that is used in biomedicine, in particular, in cancer therapy. The scientists conducted the first experiments, the next stage is scaling up the research using more powerful lasers.

Bismuth is a mineral found in the earth's crust and seawater. Bismuth nanoparticles are used in basic scientific research on biomedicine, as well as in cancer therapy. Bismuth nanoparticles in modern industrial enterprises are obtained, among other things, by mechanical crushing.

"During the research, we created a method for obtaining bismuth nanoparticles using laser ablation with a helium laser. To do this, we assembled an installation, a bismuth target, which was irradiated with a pulsed laser. The target itself was immersed in liquid glycerin. This is necessary for the localization of nanoparticles so that they remain in solution," explained Vladimir Smirnov, a student at the Department of Nanostructured, Fibrous and Composite Materials named after A.I. Meos of Ƶ.

"The results of optical, electron and force microscopy have shown that the necessary nanoparticles are present in the solution we obtained. In addition, we found out that with an increase in the temperature of the solution with the target, the yield of nanoparticles increases," explains Natalia Kablukova, Associate professor of the Department of Physics at Ƶ, Candidate of Physico—Mathematical Sciences.

The main advantage of the method is its simplicity. Thus, the resulting solution with nanoparticles can be used immediately, which improves the biocompatibility of nanoparticles. Whereas with traditional methods, it is necessary to additionally isolate these nanoparticles. According to scientists, this method will optimize the process in industrial conditions.