Gold surface (Au surface)

Gold surfaces, primarily in the form of nanoparticles or thin films, are inorganic materials widely used in biotechnology and medicine rather than being biological targets themselves. They are characterized by their high chemical stability, biocompatibility, and unique optoelectronic properties, such as Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), which is the gold standard for measuring biomolecular interactions in drug discovery [1]. In oncology, gold nanoparticles are engineered as therapeutic agents for photothermal therapy, where they absorb specific wavelengths of light to generate heat and destroy tumor cells [2]. They also function as versatile drug delivery vehicles, allowing for the high-density attachment of therapeutic payloads and targeting moieties via gold-sulfur bonds [3]. While gold is generally considered inert, the clinical use of gold surfaces requires careful consideration of nanoparticle size and surface chemistry to manage their accumulation in organs like the liver and spleen [4].

Other names

Gold nanoparticlesAuNPsColloidal goldGold substrateGold thin filmAu(111) surface

Gold surfaces function as abiotic platforms for drug delivery and diagnostic sensing. They utilize Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) to detect molecular binding events and can be functionalized with thiolated ligands for targeted delivery. In therapeutic applications, gold nanoparticles act as photothermal agents, converting light into heat to induce localized hyperthermia and cell death [1][2].