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 ...

Extensive biomedical applications of nanoparticles are mainly determined by their safety and compatibility in biological systems. The aim of this study was to compare the biosafety and biocompatibility of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) prepared with HEPES buffer, which is popular for cell culture, and sodium citrate, a frequent reducing agent. From experimental results on the body weight and organ c...

background: gold nanoparticles are emerging as promising agents for cancer therapy and are being investigated as drug carriers, photothermal agents, contrast agents and radiosensitisers. objective: the aim of this study is to understand characteristics of secondary electrons generated from interaction of gold nanoparticles gnps with x-rays as a function of nanoparticle size and beam energy and ...

We present a new method of rapid sequence-selective microRNA (miRNA) detection with small amount of sample using power-free PDMS microfluidic device and gold-nanoparticles (GNPs). Target miRNA hybridized to probe DNA was labeled by DNA-coated GNPs, which also act as signal amplifiers. This method allows us to detect miRNA of certain sequence in 30 min with 0.5 μL sample volume. This method migh...

We measured the flexibility of Fab and Fc arms of immunoglobulin using gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure the affinity of anti-5 nm GNP antiserum against various sizes of GNPs. The flexibility of Fc was also measured by electron microscopy. The restricted binding affinity indicated that only a very limited amount of freedom was allowed for the ...

In this article, a facile strategy is developed to synthesize a nanocomposite containing both a rare earth doped upconversion nanoparticle (RE-UCNP) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Such a nanocomposite can serve as a dual-modal imaging agent for upconversion luminescence (UCL) imaging and photoacoustic tomography (PAT). High spatial resolution, 3-dimensional imaging of blood vessels could be ach...

Herein we report a simple, one-pot, surfactant-free synthesis of 3D Ag microspheres (AgMSs) in aqueous phase at room temperature. The 3D AgMSs act as supports to fix the gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in 3D space via the interaction between the carboxyl groups of GNPs and the Ag atoms of AgMSs. The ensemble of AgMSs@GNPs with high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity and sensitivity can...

Here we described the preparation and characterization by atomic force microscopy of dumbbell-shaped conjugates between 450 bp double-stranded DNA polymer, poly(dG)-poly(dC), and 5 nm gold nanoparticles (GNPs). We have demonstrated that the size of the nanoparticles in the conjugates can be increased in a controlled fashion. Application of the conjugates for measuring the electrical conductivit...

Specific PCR products are detected with an antibody-free lateral-flow device by sandwiching them between reporter oligonucleotides covalently attached to gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and capture oligonucleotides covalently attached to a nitrocellulose chromatographic strip.

background: to enhance the dose to tumor, the use of high atomic number elements has been proposed. objective: the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of gold nanoparticle distribution on dose enhancement in tumor when the tumor is irradiated by typical monoenergetic x-ray beams by considering homogeneous and inhomogeneous distributions of gold nanoparticles (gnps) in the tumor. meth...