Clinical and Medical Applications
In medicine, gold nanoparticles are utilized for their ability to interact with biological systems at a molecular level:
Photothermal Therapy (PTT): Certain shapes, like gold nanorods, absorb near-infrared light and convert it into heat. This heat can be precisely directed to "cook" and destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Drug Delivery: AuNPs act as "nanocarriers," transporting therapeutic agents directly to diseased cells. Their surface can be functionalized to recognize specific markers, ensuring targeted delivery.
Bioimaging: Because gold is electron-dense, it is an excellent contrast agent for computed tomography (CT) and electron microscopy, providing high-resolution images of internal structures.
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