Cordy gold nanoparticles

Why in news?

• Medicines may soon have traces of Cordy gold nanoparticles(Cor-AuNPs) for greater efficacy.

About Cordy gold nanoparticles (Cor-AuNPs):

• Cordy gold nanoparticles(Cor-AuNPs) are derived from the synthesis of the extracts of Cordyceps militaris and Gold Salts.
• It is an outcome of a collaborative experiment by scientists from four Indian Institutions.
• It has earned an international patent from Germany.
• The use of these nanoparticles in medicines could make drug delivery in the human body faster and surer.

What is Cordyceps Militaris?

• Cordyceps militaris is a high value parasitic fungus.
• It is also called a super mushroom because of its tremendous medicinal properties.
• Wild Cordyceps mushroom is found in the eastern Himalayan belt.
• It is also grown in the lab at the Department of Biotechnology’s Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) at Bodoland University, one of the collaborators of the patented research work.

About Gold salts:

• Gold salts are ionic chemical compounds of gold.
• The term, “gold salts” is a misnomer and is the term for the gold compounds used in medicine.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Cordyceps Militaris’, recently seen in news:

1. It is a high value bacterium

2. It is found in the eastern Himalayan belt

3. It’s extract is recently been used for targeted drug delivery

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer