What Applications Do Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Have?
Due to their unique properties, gold and silver nanoparticles are used in a wide range of applications including:
- Medical diagnostics: They are used in techniques like lateral flow assays for detecting biomarkers. - Drug delivery: Their biocompatibility makes them suitable for delivering therapeutic agents to specific cells or tissues. - Cancer treatment: They are employed in photothermal therapy, where nanoparticles convert light into heat to kill cancer cells. - Catalysis: Both gold and silver nanoparticles serve as catalysts in chemical reactions due to their large surface area. - Environmental remediation: They are used to remove contaminants from water and soil.