Magnetic and Gold-Coated Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Detection Tools: Preparation, Characterization, and Biosensing Applications

Nanomaterials are at the leading edge of the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. Nanomaterials such as magnetic iron oxides and magnetic gold-coated iron oxides nanoparticles exhibit unusual optical, thermal, chemical, and physical properties, due to a combination of high-energy surface atoms compared to bulk solids. Their low toxicity, biocompatibility, and established protocols of synthesis have resulted in a tremendous upsurge of interest, and their applications as special biomolecule carriers via a stable immobilization process show promise as sensitive detection tools. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of new synthetic routes, characterization methodologies, and functionalization protocols of magnetic and gold-coated magnetic iron oxides nanoparticles. Applications of these materials as scaffolds for biosensing and detection are also discussed.