Gold in medicine
The Science of Micro-Gold
Micro-Gold particles, commonly referred to as μGold, introduced locally in the human body, possess dimensions that preclude macrophage phagocytosis and subsequent transport. Consequently, these μGold particles persist at the site of injection. During the macrophages’ attempts to degrade the μGold particles, a process called dissolucytosis, there is a localized release of gold ions. These gold ions confer an anti-inflammatory characteristic to the local tissue area, thereby preventing, inhibiting, and lowering inflammation.
The principle of Gold-medication, or gold-based therapy, is well-established, with the utilization of gold for therapeutic purposes dating back to the 1850s. Nevertheless, contemporary advancements regarding the specific size, morphology, and administration of μGold particles—along with a precise understanding of their mechanisms of action—have catalyzed the innovative application of μGold particles.
A robust body of scientific research regarding the management of rheumatic disorders utilizing gold ion-containing pharmaceuticals, such as Myocrisin®, has conclusively demonstrated that gold ions mitigate inflammation. Furthermore, in a recent study on knee osteoarthritis (OA), patients receiving our treatment with micron-sized gold particles, have exhibited strong clinical results, reducing inflammatory induced pain scores and enhancing mobility.
Articles
Intraarticular gold microparticles using hyaluronic acid as the carrier for hip osteoarthritis. A 2-year follow-up pilot study
In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether there may be a clinical relevant effect of intra-articular injection of gold microparticles on hip osteoarthritis. A cohort of 22 patients, aged ≥ 18 years, with pain ≥ 3 months, and Kellgren-Lawrence OA grade 2–4, were included. Metallic gold 20 mg, 72.000 pieces, 20–40 µ-meter BerlockMicroImplants (BMI) were injected into the hip joint using hyaluronic acid as the carrier. In total, we treated 26 hip joints. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). WOMAC pain decreased from 11 (2–20 to 3 (0–8), stiffness from 6 (0–8) to 1 (0–4), and activity from 43 (18–68) to 11 (0–27), all P = 0.0001. When adjusting for the minimally relevant differences, the P-values were 0.0015 for WOMAC pain, 0.26 for stiffness, and 0.011 for activity. Combined intraarticular treatment with metallic gold microparticles and hyaluronic acid may improve hip joint pain and function. Joint stiffness did not improve when assessed against the minimal clinically relevant difference. This study suggests a basis for a future placebo-controlled randomized trial of gold microparticles and hyaluronic acid in hip osteoarthritic patients.
Inhibition of Local Inflammation by Implanted Gold: A Narrative Review of the History and Use of Gold
Gold is highly prized for its luster, is malleable, and may have been among the first metals used for medical purposes by humans. The first documentation of the use of gold metal as a medical device is in 4500-year-old Egyptian mummies. The ancient Egyptians used dental implants in one form or another to replace missing teeth and tried to stabilize teeth that were periodontally involved using ligature wire made of gold.
nanoGold and μGold inhibit autoimmune inflammation: a review
The newest data on metallic gold have placed the noble metal central in the fight for the safe treatment of autoimmune inflammation. There are two different ways to use gold for the treatment of inflammation: gold microparticles > 20 μm and gold nanoparticles. The injection of gold microparticles (μGold) is a purely local therapy. μGold particles stay put where injected, and gold ions released from them are relatively few and taken up by cells within a sphere of only a few millimeters in diameter from their origin particles.
Metallic gold slows disease progression, reduces cell death and induces astrogliosis while simultaneously increasing stem cell responses in an EAE rat model of multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the Western world affecting younger, otherwise healthy individuals. Today no curative treatment exists. Patients suffer from recurring attacks caused by demyelination and underlying neuroinflammation, ultimately leading to loss of neurons. Recent research shows that bio-liberation of gold ions from metallic gold implants can ameliorate inflammation, reduce apoptosis and promote proliferation of neuronal stem cells (NSCs) in a mouse model of focal brain injury
Intra-articular injection of gold micro-particles with hyaluronic acid for painful knee osteoarthritis
Recently, in an open pilot study, we found up to two years, a potential pain-relieving effect of intra-articular gold micro-particles using the patient’s synovial fluid for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). During the study the excluded group of patients, due to multisite pain, co-morbidities, and other exclusion criteria., received intra-articular gold micro-particles using hyaluronic acid,. We aimed to identify if pre-treatment characteristics influence the global outcome two years after intra-articular treatment for painful KOA with gold microparticles using hyaluronic acid.
Gold micro-particles for knee osteoarthritis
This exploratory study investigates if intra-articular injected gold microparticles in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) reduce immunomodulatory-based pain via proteomic changes in the synovial fluid (SF) and serum.
Effects of dissolucytotic gold ions on recovering brain lesions
Recent experimental research has shown that metallic gold releases charged gold atoms when placed intracerebrally and that the liberated gold ions affect inflammation in the brain. The observations suggest that metallic gold can be used as a safe suppressor of inflammation in the central nervous system.