Gold nanoparticles in image-guided cancer therapy

With advances in the syntheses of a variety of nanomaterials, including superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots and gold nanoparticles, has come a surge of interest in the use of nanoparticles in biomedical application. Among these nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention as imaging agents, drug-delivery vehicles and theranostic agents because of their unique physical and chemical properties, and ease of synthesis and surface modification. This review focuses on the biomedical uses of gold nanoparticles based on our research, with an emphasis on cancer applications.