Specific gene silencing was vectorized via gold nanoparticles to enhance the killing potential of chemotherapy against leukemia cells. By targeting the fusion oncogene BCR-ABL1 using gold nanoaprticles in chronic myeloid leukemia cells, the Portuguese researchers were capable to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of standard chemotherapy in a combined strategy that this groups has been optimizing at UCIBIO (Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia of Universidade Nova de Lisboa.