Application of gold nanoparticles in biomedical and drug delivery

Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol. 2016;44(1):410-22. doi: 10.3109/21691401.2014.955107. Epub 2014 Sep 17.

Abstract

Nanoparticles are the simplest form of structures with sizes in the nanometer (nm) range. In principle any collection of atoms bonded together with a structural radius of < 100 nm can be considered nano particles. Nanotechnology offers unique approaches to probe and control a variety of biological and medical processes that occur at nanometer scales, and is expected to have a revolutionary impact on biology and medicine. Among the approaches for exploiting nanotechnology in medicine, nanoparticles offer some unique advantages as sensing, image enhancement, and delivery agents. Several varieties of nanoparticles with biomedical relevance are available including, polymeric nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, quantum dots, dendrimers, and nanoassemblies. To further the application of nanoparticles in disease diagnosis and therapy, it is important that the systems are biocompatible and capable of being functionalized for recognition of specific target sites in the body after systemic administration. In this review, we have explained some important applications of gold nanoparticles.

Keywords: biocompatible; drug delivery; gold nanoparticle; immunoassay; photothermal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Dendrimers / chemical synthesis
  • Dendrimers / therapeutic use
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Liposomes / chemical synthesis
  • Liposomes / therapeutic use
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Micelles
  • Nanomedicine / methods*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use
  • Quantum Dots / chemistry
  • Transfection / methods

Substances

  • Dendrimers
  • Liposomes
  • Micelles
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Gold