Gold Nanoparticles in Biosensing and Personalized Medicine: Transforming Diagnostics with Precision

 

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as one of the most versatile materials in biosensing and personalized medicine, offering highest precision in detection, signal amplification, and molecular recognition. Their distinctive optical and electronic properties, primarily driven by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), enable applications across diagnostic platforms, from colorimetric lateral flow assays to Raman-based genomic biosensors.

Power of Gold Nanoparticles in Modern Biosensing

Gold nanoparticles have become indispensable components in the biosensing due to their ability to generate vivid plasmonic color changes. The collective oscillation of electrons on AuNP surfaces under light exposure leads to intense optical shifts that can be detected visually or spectroscopically. A notable example is the integration of AuNPs into COVID-19 lateral flow assays (LFAs), where antibodies conjugated to nanoscale gold particles bind specifically to viral proteins from nasal swabs. Within minutes, users can see a striking red line on the test strip, reflecting the optical resonance signature of the AuNPs (Ferrari et al., 2023; Hegde et al., 2021, Dong et al., 2023). This simple yet powerful approach has redefined rapid antigen diagnostics on a global scale and demonstrated capability of AuNPs to deliver point-of-care results with laboratory-grade reliability.

Multiplexed Detection: One Test, Multiple Targets

Recent innovations push beyond single-pathogen detection. Multiplexed biosensing using shape- and size-tuned AuNPs offers parallel analysis of multiple biomarkers within a single platform. For instance, Zhang et al. (2024) developed a colorimetric nanobiosensor based on multiple morphological forms of functionalized gold nanoparticles for the simultaneous detection of the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 virus. Gold nanospheres were modified with oligonucleotides specific for the influenza A virus, while gold nanoshells were modified with oligonucleotides specific for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In the presence of their respective targets, AuNPs remained stable and aggregate in the absence of targets, providing with different colors for each target. Yen et al. (2015) utilized the size-dependent optical properties of triangular silver nanoparticles AgNPs to develop a multiplexed LFA for the detection of the dengue virus (DENV) NS1 protein, the yellow fever virus (YFV) NS1 protein, and an Ebola virus (ZEBOV) glycoprotein. The three monoclonal capture antibodies were deposited in equal concentrations on a single TL, and the conjugated pad was loaded with a mixture of orange, red, and green AgNPs, each functionalized for a separate target analyte. Such multi-analyte biosensors significantly enhance diagnostic efficiency and reduce sample volume requirements, crucial for portable healthcare in remote or resource-constrained settings.

Electrochemical Biosensors: Amplifying Sensitivity Through Gold Interfaces

In electrochemical biosensing, AuNPs function as signal amplifiers and biorecognition platforms. Their conductive surface can be functionalized with enzymes, aptamers, or antibodies, transforming biochemical interactions into measurable electric currents. Kim et al. (2019) developed a hyaluronate-gold nanoparticle/glucose oxidase (HA-AuNP/GOx) complex integrated with a low-power ASIC chip to create a wireless, noninvasive, patch-type glucose sensor. The system demonstrated highly sensitive glucose detection in the picomolar range suitable for continuous diabetes monitoring with excellent correlation to commercial blood glucose meters. This illustrates enzyme-functionalized AuNP electrodes with ultra-high sensitivity for real-time, wearable diabetes management. Recent studies demonstrate that AuNP-modified electrodes allow reliable detection of glucose, cholesterol, and cardiac biomarkers at nanomolar concentrations (Jamshidnejad-Tosaramandani et al., 2024; Khaleque, et al., 2023, Upadhaya, et al., 2025). These works detail current technologies and performance metrics, illustrating the bridging role of AuNP-based biosensors between traditional diagnostics and advanced wearable/continuous health platforms for personalized medicine.

Precision Medicine Through Nano-Enabled Genetic Profiling

The convergence of AuNP technology with genomic medicine holds extraordinary potential for patient-specific diagnosis. Recent studies (Lyu et al., 2024, Issatayeva  et al., 2024, Li et al., 2023) detail the power of AuNP-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) biosensors for discriminating single-nucleotide mutations in oncogenic DNA sequences. These advanced biosensors detect tiny molecular changes that traditional methods often miss, helping catch cancer early and guiding treatments tailored to each person’s unique genetics. This breakthrough highlights how personalized medicine increasingly relies on nanoplasmonic sensors to deliver fast, accurate results anywhere—from high-tech labs to the comfort of home.

The Future of Gold Nanoparticle Biosensing

Gold nanoparticles have moved beyond their traditional role as passive markers to become powerful enablers of smart diagnostics. Thanks to their customizable surface chemistry, versatile optical properties, and seamless integration with digital health platforms, they are at the heart of next-generation biosensors. Advances in eco-friendly synthesis and biocompatible coatings enhance their reproducibility and safety, while miniaturized plasmonic and electrochemical devices make real-time patient monitoring and on-demand therapeutic measurements possible. The fusion of AuNP biosensors with digital technologies is driving precision, accessible, and predictive healthcare forward.

References

  1. Ferrari E. (2023). Gold Nanoparticle-Based Plasmonic Biosensors. Biosensors, 13(3), 411. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13030411
  2. Hegde, S., Tang, Z., Zhao, J., & Wang, J. (2021). Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by Targeting Conserved Viral RNA Structures and Sequences. Frontiers in chemistry, 9, 802766. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2021.802766
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  4. Zhang, S., Zhang, Y., Jiang, J., Charconnet, M., Peng, Y., Zhang, L., and Lawrie, C.H. (2024) Shape-Specific Gold Nanoparticles for Multiplex Biosensing Applications. ACS Omega 9 (35), 37163-37169 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c04385
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  6. Kim, S.-K., Jeon, C., Lee, G.-H., Koo, J., Cho, S. H., Han, S., Shin, M. H., Sim, J.-Y., & Hahn, S. K. (2019). Hyaluronate-Gold Nanoparticle/Glucose Oxidase Complex for Highly Sensitive Wireless Non-invasive Glucose Sensors. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 11(40), 37347-37356 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b13874
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  11. Issatayeva, A., Farnesi, E., Cialla-May, D., Schmitt, M., Rizzi, F. M. A., Milanese, D., Selleri, S., & Cucinotta, A. (2024). SERS-based methods for the detection of genomic biomarkers of cancer. Talanta, 267, 125198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125198
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