Revisiting gold nanoshells as multifunctional biomedical nanotools

The application of gold nanoparticles in the biomedical field has been widely explored in the last decades owing to their high biocompatibility, easy functionalization, and their structurally highly dependent optical properties. Among the different types of gold-based nanostructures, gold nanoshells...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Topete Camacho, Antonio, Varela, Alejandro, Navarro Real, Mariana, Rial Silva, Ramón, Pardo Montero, Alberto, Taboada Antelo, Pablo
Format: article
Publication Date:2024
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC)
Repository:Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:minerva.usc.gal:10347/39875
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10347/39875
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Gold nanoshells
Gold nanoparticles
Biological interactions
Photothermal therapy
Bioimaging
Biosensing
Theragnosis
Description
Summary:The application of gold nanoparticles in the biomedical field has been widely explored in the last decades owing to their high biocompatibility, easy functionalization, and their structurally highly dependent optical properties. Among the different types of gold-based nanostructures, gold nanoshells (GNSs) are a particularly interesting option due to their complex dual structure, which allows the integration of several functionalities and a wide tunability of their optical response. Despite the remarkable progress made for the design of GNSs with the optimal characteristics for the intended application, the development of nanosystems that display the desired functionalities and preserve them in biological environments while showing effective targeting capability is still a challenge. In this review, the different synthetic routes proposed for the design of GNSs, their most remarkable optical properties, and the most relevant concerns associated with their interaction with biological systems are discussed. The application of these nanostructures for different diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes is also reviewed. Finally, major remaining barriers to the clinical translation of GNSs and potential future directions of research in this field are critically commented. Graphical abstract