Gold nanoparticle-based sensing strategies for biomolecular detection

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been extensively employed in biological studies for several decades. More recently, progress has well demonstrated that DNA-conjugated AuNPs are highly promising nanoprobes for the sensitive detection of various biomolecules, based on the unique optical and electronic properties of AuNPs. In this short review, we focus on the use of AuNP-based nanoprobes for biological detection of nucleic acids, proteins, and other biologically relevant small-molecule targets, mainly based on the recent progress in our laboratory.