Advances and potential application of gold nanoparticles in nanomedicine |
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| Authors: | Talíria Silva Lopes PhD Gutemberg Gomes Alves PhD Mariana Rodrigues Pereira PhD Jose Mauro Granjeiro PhD Paulo Emílio Corrêa Leite PhD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Graduate Program in Sciences and Biotechnology, Fluminense Federal University – UFF, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil;2. Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Fluminense Federal University – UFF, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil;3. Biology Institute, Fluminense Federal University – UFF, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil;4. Dental School – Fluminense Federal University – UFF, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil
Laboratory of Bioengineering and in Vitro Toxicology, Directory of Metrology Applied to Life Sciences – Dimav, National Institute of Metrology Quality and Technology – INMETRO, Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil;5. Laboratory of Bioengineering and in Vitro Toxicology, Directory of Metrology Applied to Life Sciences – Dimav, National Institute of Metrology Quality and Technology – INMETRO, Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Nanomedicine is an emerging research area which has brought new possibilities and promising applications in image, diagnosis, and treatment. Nanoparticles (NPs) for medicinal purposes can be made of several material types such as silica, carbon, different polymers, and metals as silver, copper, titanium, and gold. Gold NPs (AuNPs) are the most studied and used, mostly due to their characteristics including simple preparation, controllable size and distribution, biocompatibility, good acceptance of surface modifications, and specific surface plasmon resonance (SPR). This study reviews the scientific literature regarding the potential applications of AuNPs in the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for nanomedicine, including their biomedical use as a drug carrier, as an agent in radio and phototherapy, and bioimaging for image diagnosis. While it becomes clear that much research remains to be done to improve the use of these nanoparticles, with particular concern for safety issues, the evidence from the literature already points to the great potential of AuNPs in nanomedicine. |
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| Keywords: | biotechnology drug delivery gold nanoparticles nanomedicine nanotoxicity |
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