Gold
nanoparticles have range of applications in the medical field. This could be
attributed to one or a combination of multiple characteristics. First
nanoparticles have the ability to be functionalized with wide range of
molecules. This characteristic allows nanoparticles the ability to be
functionalized with a wide range of molecules which allows preparation of
nanoparticles that are biocompatible with applications that involve cells,
proteins or DNA. Nanoparticles have the ability to penetrate cell membranes
while carrying DNA or drugs, and therefore good candidates for gene therapy and
drug delivery. As mentioned before nanoparticles have special optical
properties. These feature of nanoparticles can be manipulated to allow the
monitoring or detection of biological activity by tracking absorption changes.
For
example, the activity of enzymes and substrates that play a critical role in
may biological properties can be investigated. These optical properties can also
be utilized for imaging for example magnetic nanoparticles can be targeted
toward cancer cells, and MRI contrast will dramatically improve in comparison
to conventional MRI. In addition, nanoparticles can be locally heated.
Nanoparticles located in a cancer cell can be heated by x-ray or other beam
radiation, destroying the cancer cells.
In
following post the sensors based on metal nanoparticles that have biological or
medical application will be described in detail. The following sensors are:
- Attachment of gold nanoparticles to cell surfaces
- Gene and siRNA delivery
- Drug Delivery
- Nanoparticles as Cancer Diagnostic & Therapeutic Agents
- Nano-shells for Cancer Treatment
- Imaging and Hyperthermia using (Au/SiO2) Nano shells
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