Intrinsic therapeutic applications of noble metal nanoparticles: past, present and future

Biomedical nanotechnology is an evolving field having enormous potential to positively impact the health care system. Important biomedical applications of nanotechnology that may have potential clinical applications include targeted drug delivery, detection/diagnosis and imaging. Basic understanding of how nanomaterials, the building blocks of nanotechnology, interact with the cells and their biological consequences are beginning to evolve. Noble metal nanoparticles such as gold, silver and platinum are particularly interesting due to their size and shape dependent unique optoelectronic properties. These noble metal nanoparticles, particularly of gold, have elicited a lot of interest for important biomedical applications because of their ease of synthesis, characterization and surface functionalization. Furthermore, recent investigations are demonstrating another promising application of these nanomaterials as self-therapeutics. To realize the potential promise of these unique inorganic nanomaterials for future clinical translation, it is of utmost importance to understand a few critical parameters; (i) how these nanomaterials interact with the cells at the molecular level; (ii) how their biodistribution and pharmacokinetics influenced by their surface and routes of administration; (iii) mechanism of their detoxification and clearance and (iv) their therapeutic efficacy in appropriate disease model. Thus in this critical review, we will discuss the various clinical applications of gold, silver and platinum nanoparticles with relevance to above parameters. We will also mention various routes of synthesis of these noble metal nanoparticles. However, before we discuss present research, we will also look into the past. We need to understand the discoveries made before us in order to further our knowledge and technological development (318 references).     

Microbial synthesis of gold nanoparticles: Current status and future prospects

Gold nanoparticles have been employed in biomedicine since the last decade because of their unique optical, electrical and photothermal properties. Present review discusses the microbial synthesis, properties and biomedical applications of gold nanoparticles. Different microbial synthesis strategies used so far for obtaining better yield and stability have been described. It also includes different methods used for the characterization and analysis of gold nanoparticles, viz. UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X ray diffraction spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ransmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, electron dispersive X ray, X ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cyclic voltametry. The different mechanisms involved in microbial synthesis of gold nanoparticles have been discussed. The information related to applications of microbially synthesized gold nanoparticles and patents on microbial synthesis of gold nanoparticles has been summarized.     

The in vitro and in vivo toxicity of gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles,owing to their unique physicochemical and optical properties,well-established synthetic methods and easy modifications,have been widely used in biomedical science.Therefore,for their safe and efficient applications,much attention has been given to the toxicological evaluations of gold nanoparticles in biological systems.A large number of studies focusing on this problem have been carried out during the past years.However,the researches on gold nanoparticles toxicity still remain fragmentary and even contradictory with each other.This may be caused by the variety in experimental conditions.In this review,we aim to provide a better understanding about the in vitro and in vivo toxicity of gold nanoparticles by reviewing and describing the up to date literatures related to this problem and we mainly focused on these properties such as the particle size and shape,the surface charge and modification.Besides,we also summarized the adverse effect of gold nanoparticles on immune systems and analyzed the origin of the toxicity.     

Construction of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Decorated Gold Nanostructures as Nanomedical Agents

Gold nanoparticles provide promising applications based on their versatile properties of electromagnetic scattering and absorption and the capability of photothermal transduction relying on their size and shape. Because of their high tolerance to the environment and their excellent biocompatibility, gold nanoparticles are the most recognized nanomaterial applied in biomedicine. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a native biomaterial that stores genetic information in living organisms. Naturally, DNA can be combined with gold nanoparticles for a variety of biomedical purposes. For example, the reversible hydrogen bonding of the complementary double‐stranded structures has been employed to serve as a gate keeper for the control of drug release on demand. Besides, the complementary hybridization behavior has given the specific recognition in nucleic acid for sensing feature. Accordingly, this mini‐review describes how DNA–gold nanoconjugates have been formulated and aimed for drug release and sensing analysis as well as the hybrids of aptamer–gold analogy for biomedical studies. These nanoconjugates show the potential for preclinical and clinical treatments.     

Gold Nanomaterials: Preparation,Chemical Modification,Biomedical Applications and Potential Risk Assessment

Gold nanomaterials (Au NMs) have attracted increasing attention in biomedicine due to their facile preparation, multifunctional modifications, unique optical and electrical properties, and good biocompatibility. The physicochemical properties of Au NMs at nanoscale, like size, shape, surface chemistry, and near field effects, are rendering Au NMs potent candidates in biomedicine. Thus, risk assessment of negative effects of Au NMs on biological systems is becoming urgent and necessary for future applications. In this review, we summarize up-to-date progresses on the preparation and modification of Au NMs and their biomedical applications, including biosensor, bioimaging and phototherapy, gene/drug delivery. Finally, we discuss the potential risk of Au NMs to biological systems, which is instructive for rationally designing and preparing nanomaterials for safe applications in nanomedicine.     

Emerging Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have drawn tremendous attention due to their unique physicochemical properties and promising applications in the fields of electronics, energy storage, and catalysis. Recently, the biomedicine community has gradually started to recognize the great potential of these nanostructured materials for biomedical applications – in particular those related to cancer therapy. In this review, we provide a brief overview of a few representative 2D nanomaterials, discuss their preparation strategies and physicochemical properties, and highlight their applications in cancer nanomedicine. We expect that this review will shed some light on the new opportunities associated with 2D nanomaterials for biomedical research.     

Droplet‐based microfluidics systems in biomedical applications

Microfluidics has made a very impressive progress in the past decades due to its unique and instinctive advantages. Droplet‐based microfluidic systems show excellent compatibility with many chemical and biological reagents and are capable of performing variety of operations that can implement microreactor, complex multiple core–shell structure, and many applications in biomedical research such as drug encapsulation, targeted drug delivery systems, and multifunctionalization on carriers. Droplet‐based systems have been directly used to synthesize particles and encapsulate many biological entities for biomedicine applications due to their powerful encapsulation capability and facile versatility. In this paper, we review its origin, deviation, and evolution to draw a clear future, especially for droplet‐based biomedical applications. This paper will focus on droplet generation, variations and complication as starter, and logistically lead to the numerous typical applications in biomedical research. Finally, we will summarize both its challenge and future prospects relevant to its droplet‐based biomedical applications.     

Surface chemistry of gold nanoparticles for health-related applications

Functionalization of gold nanoparticles is crucial for the effective utilization of these materials in health-related applications. Health-related applications of gold nanoparticles rely on the physical and chemical reactions between molecules and gold nanoparticles. Surface chemistry can precisely control and tailor the surface properties of gold nanoparticles to meet the needs of applications. Gold nanoparticles have unique physical and chemical properties, and have been used in a broad range of applications from prophylaxis to diagnosis and treatment. The surface chemistry of gold nanoparticles plays a crucial role in all of these applications. This minireview summarizes these applications from the perspective of surface chemistry and explores how surface chemistry improves and imparts new properties to gold nanoparticles for these applications.

Functionalization of gold nanoparticles is crucial for the effective utilization of these materials in health-related applications.     

Droplet microfluidics

Droplet-based microfluidic systems have been shown to be compatible with many chemical and biological reagents and capable of performing a variety of "digital fluidic" operations that can be rendered programmable and reconfigurable. This platform has dimensional scaling benefits that have enabled controlled and rapid mixing of fluids in the droplet reactors, resulting in decreased reaction times. This, coupled with the precise generation and repeatability of droplet operations, has made the droplet-based microfluidic system a potent high throughput platform for biomedical research and applications. In addition to being used as microreactors ranging from the nano- to femtoliter range; droplet-based systems have also been used to directly synthesize particles and encapsulate many biological entities for biomedicine and biotechnology applications. This review will focus on the various droplet operations, as well as the numerous applications of the system. Due to advantages unique to droplet-based systems, this technology has the potential to provide novel solutions to today's biomedical engineering challenges for advanced diagnostics and therapeutics.     

金纳米颗粒制备及应用研究进展

金纳米颗粒是近年研究的一种热门材料。介绍了金纳米颗粒主要的制备方法,包括化学还原法,两相法,晶种生长法以及模板法,并总结了金纳米粒子在生物医学、传感器、催化剂、电化学等领域的应用进展。     

Synthesis,Chemical–Physical Characterization,and Biomedical Applications of Functional Gold Nanoparticles: A Review

Relevant properties of gold nanoparticles, such as stability and biocompatibility, together with their peculiar optical and electronic behavior, make them excellent candidates for medical and biological applications. This review describes the different approaches to the synthesis, surface modification, and characterization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) related to increasing their stability and available features useful for employment as drug delivery systems or in hyperthermia and photothermal therapy. The synthetic methods reported span from the well-known Turkevich synthesis, reduction with NaBH₄ with or without citrate, seeding growth, ascorbic acid-based, green synthesis, and Brust–Schiffrin methods. Furthermore, the nanosized functionalization of the AuNP surface brought about the formation of self-assembled monolayers through the employment of polymer coatings as capping agents covalently bonded to the nanoparticles. The most common chemical–physical characterization techniques to determine the size, shape and surface coverage of AuNPs are described underlining the structure–activity correlation in the frame of their applications in the biomedical and biotechnology sectors.     

Au-Fe3O4 heterostructures for catalytic,analytical, and biomedical applications

Au-Fe₃O₄ heterostructures including dumbbell-like dimer, core-shell structure, and flower-type nanoparticles (NPs), attract much attention due to their multiple modifiable surfaces and unique properties coming from either Au or Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. This review focuses on the preparation methods and biomedical applications of these heterogenous NPs in the fields of catalysis, assay, multimodal imaging, and combination therapy.     

Robust ligand shells for biological applications of gold nanoparticles

An important point regarding the development of stable biofunctional nanoparticles for biomedical applications is their potential for aspecific interactions with the molecules of the biological environment. Here we report a new self-assembled ligand monolayer system for gold nanoparticles called Mix-matrices, formed by a mixture of HS-PEG and alcohol peptides (peptidols) molecules. Stability of the Mix-capped nanoparticles prepared in various conditions was assessed using tests of increasing stringency. The results highlight the importance of identifying a concentration of ligands sufficiently high to obtain a compact matrix when preparing nanoparticles and that the stability of capped nanoparticles in biological environments cannot be predicted solely on their resistance to electrolyte-induced aggregation. The Mix-capped nanoparticles are resistant to aggregation induced by electrolytes and to aspecific interactions with proteins and ligand exchange. In addition, Mix-matrices allow the easy introduction of a single recognition function per nanoparticle, allowing the specific and stoichiometric labeling of proteins with gold nanoparticles. Therefore, the Mix-matrices provide a useful tool for the development of nanoparticle-based quantitative bioanalytical and imaging techniques, as well as for therapeutic purposes, such as the specific targeting of cancerous cells for photothermal destruction.     

Progress and trends in self-assembly driven fluorescent organic nanoparticles: A brief overview

Organic nanoparticles have recently attracted increasing attention in diverse field of applications in materials, sensing, biomedicine and others due to their extraordinary physico-optical properties and facile synthesis. These π-conjugated small organic molecules exhibit aggregation induced emission (AIE) property, photo/physical stability, good cytocompatibility as well as biodegradability and easy surface modulation ability. In this mini-review, we have summarized the progress and trends in the area of development of organic nanoparticles from π-conjugated small organic molecule. Some typical as well as few unconventional examples of AIE active systems are discussed and also focussed on their structure-property relationship to exhibit unique photophysical characteristics. To decipher the mechanistic aspect of AIE phenomenon, systematic structural design strategies are also discussed. Finally, development of optoelectronic devices, sensors, bioimaging probes, therapeutic agents, and AIE-active luminogens are exemplified with high tech innovations.     

多功能金属石墨纳米囊的生物医学应用进展

多功能金属石墨纳米囊由于其良好的稳定性和独特的理化性质, 在生物医学领域受到了广泛关注. 利用石墨烯外壳独特的拉曼散射特征峰作为拉曼标签或者内标, 结合等离子体纳米核优异的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)和双光子发光(TPL)性能, 可实现SERS生物分析以及肿瘤细胞或组织的Raman/TPL双模成像. 利用表面积大的石墨烯外壳作为药物负载平台, 结合等离子体纳米核的近红外光吸收能力, 可实现光介导的病原菌杀灭以及肿瘤细胞或实体瘤的热疗与化疗的协同治疗. 此外, 利用石墨烯外壳优异的荧光猝灭性能, 还实现了生物分子的荧光检测; 利用磁性纳米核独特的磁学性能, 可实现生物样品的分离和富集、 细菌的原位磁共振成像检测以及磁靶向胃部口服药物的递送. 本综述首先介绍了金属石墨纳米囊的制备、 分类和性质, 然后概述了它们在生物检测、 生物成像和治疗3个方面的应用进展, 并进一步总结了它们的发展现状包括生物毒性和生物医学应用的优缺点, 最后对其在生物医学领域的发展方向做出了展望. 我们期望多功能的金属石墨纳米囊能够为今后的临床生物医学应用提供可靠的纳米平台.     

Nanofibers for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications

Unique features of nanofibers provide enormous potential in the field of biomedical and healthcare applications. Many studies have proven the extreme potential of nanofibers in front of current challenges in the medical and healthcare field. This review highlights the nanofiber technologies, unique properties, fabrication techniques (i.e., physical, chemical, and biological methods), and emerging applications in biomedical and healthcare fields. It summarizes the recent researches on nanofibers for drug delivery systems and controlled drug release, tissue‐engineered scaffolds, dressings for wound healing, biosensors, biomedical devices, medical implants, skin care, as well as air, water, and blood purification systems. Attention is given to different types of fibers (e.g., mesoporous, hollow, core‐shell nanofibers) fabricated from various materials and their potential biomedical applications.     

基于金纳米棒的生物检测、细胞成像和癌症的光热治疗

由于金纳米棒颗粒独特的可调的表面等离子共振特性,使得金纳米棒颗粒在纳米复合材料和功能化纳米器件的构建、纳米生物技术、生物医学等领域具有广泛而重要的应用前景。本文综述了金纳米棒颗粒的生物检测、细胞成像和癌症的光热治疗方面的最新研究进展,并介绍了金纳米棒颗粒的光学性质和金纳米棒颗粒和几种主要的表面修饰方法,对金纳米棒颗粒在生物应用过程中存在的主要问题进行了讨论。     

Welding of gold nanoparticles on graphitic templates for chemical sensing

Controlled self-assembly of zero-dimensional gold nanoparticles and construction of complex gold nanostructures from these building blocks could significantly extend their applications in many fields. Carbon nanotubes are one of the most promising inorganic templates for this strategy because of their unique physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, which translate into numerous potential applications. Here we report the bottom-up synthesis of gold nanowires in aqueous solution through self-assembly of gold nanoparticles on single-walled carbon nanotubes followed by thermal-heating-induced nanowelding. We investigate the mechanism of this process by exploring different graphitic templates. The experimental work is assisted by computational studies that provide additional insight into the self-assembly and nanowelding mechanism. We also demonstrate the chemical sensitivity of the nanomaterial to parts-per-billion concentrations of hydrogen sulfide with potential applications in industrial safety and personal healthcare.     

Silica-coated nanocomposites of magnetic nanoparticles and quantum dots

Quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic nanoparticles (MPs) are of interest for biological imaging, drug targeting, and bioconjugation because of their unique optoelectronic and magnetic properties, respectively. To provide for water solubility and biocompatibility, QDs and MPs were encapsulated within a silica shell using a reverse microemulsion synthesis. The resulting SiO2/MP-QD nanocomposite particles present a unique combination of magnetic and optical properties. Their nonporous silica shell allows them to be surface modified for bioconjugation in various biomedical applications.     

Au25纳米团簇合成与应用研究进展

综述了新型金属纳米材料Au25纳米团簇的合成机理和合成工艺改进,结合Au纳米团簇荧光作用机理说明其特有的荧光特性,利用Au纳米团簇荧光性质在离子检测、生物小分子检测、蛋白质检测和生物成像方面的应用,为Au纳米团簇的研究提供参考。