Biomedical Applications of Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles: A Review

Metal nanoparticles are widely applied in various biomedical applications because of their unique physicochemical properties. The new and unique properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) including, biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and optical properties, make them valuable for applications of biomedical fields including, biosensing, bioimaging, cancer therapy of cancer, and drug delivery. Utilization of AuNPs in radiotherapy and photothermal therapy has created a novel platform for primary diagnosis and cancer therapy. Owing to AuNPs' large surface area, chemical functional groups or biological molecules like drug molecules can be immobilized on gold surface. Thus, the surface functionalization of AuNPs makes them a good carrier for targeted drug delivery. This review focuses on new progress in processes of the functionalization of AuNPs and their possible biomedical applications.