Green nanotech with cinnamon

Nanotechnology is beginning to smell a lot like Christmas. Scientists have figured out how to use cinnamon as a replacement for extremely toxic chemicals. While gold nanoparticles are used in everything from cancer treatment to electronics, the process used to make the nanotechnology is not all that good for the environment.

University of Missouri scientist Kattesh Katti developed a greener way. Katti replaced the harmful chemicals used to make gold nanoparticles with cinnamon.

Katti's recipe is simple: mix some cinnamon with gold salts and add water.

On the upside, there's no power needed and no harmful chemicals used.

"From our work in green nanotechnology, it is clear that cinnamon — and other species such as herbs, leaves and seeds — will serve as a reservoir of phytochemicals and has the capability to convert metals into nanoparticles," Katti said in a statement.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com