Researchers at the University at Buffalo have developed a new nanotech treatment for drug addiction.

"Scientists in UB's Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics and UB's Department of Medicine have developed a stable nanoparticle that delivers short RNA molecules in the brain to 'silence' or turn off a gene that plays a critical role in many kinds of drug addiction," according to ScienceDaily. "The UB team's in vitro findings were published online the week of March 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

"The scientists reported using nanorods, which are gold nanoparticles shaped like rods, to deliver the molecules," writes Computerworld's Sharon Gaudin. "The elongated shape allows more molecules to be loaded onto the nanoparticle."

"The team plans in-vivo tests soon, and if successful, they'll have created a very powerful chemical weapon to combat many types of drug addiction," writes Fast Company's Kit Eaton. "The technique should also translate to treating other disorders... The current thinking is that the nanotech may be suitable for AIDS, dementia, prostate cancer, and - the potential big money-winner - asthma."

More here from Softpedia ... more here from Small Times ... and the press release is here.