Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and GNP-based multifunctional nanocomposites are the subject of intensive studies and biomedical applications. This minireview summarizes our recent efforts in analytical and theranostic applications of engineered GNPs and nanocomposites by using plasmonic properties of GNPs and various optical techniques. Specifically, we consider analytical biosensing; visualization ...

There is an increased interest in understanding the toxicity and rational design of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for biomedical applications in recent years. Such efforts warrant reliable, viable, and biofriendly synthetic methodology for GNPs with homogeneous sizes and shapes, particularly sizes above 30 nm, which is currently challenging. In the present study, an environmentally benign, biofrien...

Study of the liquid crystal (LC) director around nanoparticles has been an important topic of research very recently, since it allows design and fabrication of next-generation LC devices that are impossible in the past. In our experiment, alkanethiol-capped gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were dispersed in nematic LC. Analysis of the LC director around GNPs was performed by investigating the behavior...

A highly selective quinoline-based fluorescent sensor L was designed, prepared and used to monitor zinc ions in Goldfish (Carassius auratus) as model of vertebrate organism. Modified gold nanoparticles having functional quinoline molecules (GNPs@L) were also synthesized and their sensing properties towards different metal ions were also explored in solution, showing high selectively towards the...

background: photodynamic therapy (pdt) is a promising therapeutic modality for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. in this study, the epidermoid carcinoma cell line a431 and the normal fibroblasts were used to investigate whether gold nanoparticles (gnps) can induce an increase in cell death during pdt using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ala) as a photosensitizer. methods: human fibroblast a...

Introduction: Radiation therapy (RT) is the gold standard treatment for more than half of known tumors. There is increasing evidence that combining radiation therapy with a radiosensitizer can enhance the efficiency of this treatment modality. A radiosensitizer preferably enhances dose at the site of tumor and increases discrimination between tumor and normal surrounding tissue...

In this paper we report the optical properties of fluorescein-conjugated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in solid phantoms using diffusion reflection (DR) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). The GNPs attached with fluorescein in solution were studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The intensity decays were recorded to reveal the fluorescence lifetime of fluorescein while i...

AIM To describe how pegylated glucose-coated gold nanoparticles (PEG-Glu-GNPs) can help improve computed tomography (CT) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS PEG-Glu-GNPs were designed for use as an imaging nanoprobe to act an effective contrast agent for both CT and PET scans. Twelve BALB/c mice were divided into two groups: mice with injected with PEG-Glu-GNPs and control mice. The mice were exam...

In spite of extensive studies conducted on carbon nanotubes and silicate layers for their polymer-based nanocomposites, the rise of graphene now provides a more promising candidate due to its exceptionally high mechanical performance and electrical and thermal conductivities. The present study developed a facile approach to fabricate epoxy-graphene nanocomposites by thermally expanding a commer...

A major obstacle in the field of nanotoxicology is the development of an in vitro model that accurately predicts an in vivo response. To address this concern, rat liver precision-cut slices were used to assess the impact of 5-nm gold nanoparticles (GNPs) coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the mammalian liver, following exposure to different concentrations and for a duration of up to 24 h...