Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 11
Gold Nanoparticles in Biosensing Analyses
Subash C.B. Gopinath, Marimuthu Citartan, Thangavel Lakshmipriya,
Thean-Hock Tang, and Yeng Chen
Abstract Monitoring biomolecular interactions has become a constituent element
of various medical and clinical applications. The importance of measuring the
biomolecular interaction is evident as a potpourri of sensing strategies is currently
and continuously devised. One of the strategies that can immensely enhance the
sensitivity of the interaction is the one mediated by nanoparticles. Among the
various nanoparticles, gold nanoparticle (AuNP) is opted for due to its capacity to
improve the sensitivity and selectivity of biomolecular interactions. In addition to
this, AuNP is easy to be manufactured, chemically inert, have uniform dispersibility
and are able to react with chemically modified biomolecules. In this overview, the
roles adopted by AuNP in various biosensing applications are discussed.
11.1
Introduction
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess excellent features that make them a magnif-
icent material for chemical and biomolecular sensing applications [
1
-
9
]. AuNPs
have features such as inert, have compatibility with surface functionalization and
can make in different sizes. Another interesting characteristic of AuNPs is the
absorption of the AuNPs which is at 520 nm as a result of surface plasmon
excitation [
10
-
12
]. Due to this feature, AuNPs have become a platform for the
