Advances in Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Functionalization Strategies, and Theranostic Applications in Cancer.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer remains a leading global cause of mortality and morbidity.
• Metallic nanoparticles, particularly gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), present a novel strategy to mitigate cancer treatment's adverse effects.
• AuNPs possess unique properties like tunable size, optical characteristics, biocompatibility, and minimal toxicity, making them suitable for biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the synthesis, functionalization, and biomedical applications of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in cancer management.
• To highlight the potential of AuNPs as drug delivery systems, diagnostic agents, and theranostic tools.
• To discuss various research studies and clinical trials involving AuNPs for cancer diagnosis and therapeutics.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of synthesis methods for different AuNP morphologies (nanorods, spherical, hollow).
• Exploration of functionalization strategies using ligands (peptides, oligonucleotides, polymers, carbohydrates) for active targeting.
• Review of applications in drug delivery, gene delivery, photothermal therapy, and diagnostics (imaging and spectroscopy).

Main Results:

• AuNPs can be engineered for site-specific drug delivery, reducing systemic toxicity.
• Functionalized AuNPs demonstrate potential in targeted cancer cell killing and imaging.
• The theranostic capabilities of AuNPs offer a superior benefit-to-risk profile in cancer management.

Conclusions:

• Gold nanoparticles represent a versatile platform for advanced cancer diagnosis and therapy.
• Targeted delivery and theranostic applications of AuNPs show significant promise in oncology.
• Further research and clinical trials are crucial to fully realize the potential of AuNPs in cancer care.