Gold Nanoparticles in Biomedicine: Advancements in Cancer Therapy, Drug Delivery, Diagnostics, and Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

This review article provides an overview of the applications of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in biomedicine, focusing on their use in cancer therapy, drug delivery, diagnostics, and tissue regeneration. The unique optical properties of AuNPs allow for photothermal therapy, while their flexible surface chemistry enables functionalization with targeting ligands and therapeutics. Extensive research has demonstrated the effectiveness of AuNP-mediated photothermal ablation in various tumor models using near-infrared laser irradiation. Active tumor targeting has been achieved through the engineering of AuNP platforms with ligands such as transferrin, folic acid, and hyaluronic acid. Combining AuNPs with chemotherapy and immunotherapy has shown synergistic therapeutic benefits. Additionally, AuNPs have been explored as carriers for drugs and genes, with the design of stimuli-responsive polymers, lipids, and mesoporous silica enabling controlled release of cargo within cells. In diagnostics, the plasmonic properties of AuNPs have been leveraged for photoacoustic imaging, and clinical translation has been achieved in sentinel lymph node mapping. AuNP constructs have also overcome the limitations of the blood-brain barrier, allowing for delivery to the central nervous system. In regenerative medicine, functionalized AuNPs have demonstrated the ability to stimulate osteogenesis, myogenesis, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration when combined with growth factors. They have also been found to accelerate wound healing through immunomodulation and promotion of revascularization. AuNP-based hydrogels and scaffolds provide structural support in tissue engineering applications. AuNP platforms exhibit versatility in addressing challenges in oncology, drug delivery, diagnostics, and regenerative therapies. Continued optimization of these strategies holds promise for their translation from the laboratory to clinical applications.