Application of Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticle for Drug Delivery System

BACKGROUND: Efforts in developing various colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) as theranostic probes have been promising in the biomedical field. Specifically, colloidal gold nanoparticles (GNP) have been extensively utilized as a theranostic probe for molecular imaging and drug delivery owing to their unique physiochemical properties with excellent biocompatibility. OBJECTIVE: This review outlines and discusses the progress regarding gold nanoparticle synthesis methods for controlled geometry (spherical, rod, and cage), surface functionalization (covalent and non-covalent), and associated in vitro/in vivo cytotoxicity as well as some of the interesting diagnostic (imaging) and therapeutic (photo-thermal, drug delivery) applications. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: GNP possesses several advantages compared to other traditional theranostic agents, we firmly believe that GNP based clinical approach will gain continuous interest with increasing numbers of innovations.