Chapter 1 - Recent advances in the designs and development of functionalized nanoparticles

Abstract

Surface-functionalized nanoparticles have flourished greatly due to recent research through their immense applications in the healthcare sector and other daily life areas. Nanoparticles display distinct physical properties that vary across a significant size range which make them attractive materials for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Surface-functionalized nanoparticles are modified by conjugation with affinity biomolecules to harness their utility in imaging, sensing, and targeted drug delivery. Silver NPs functionalized with conjugates find their application in antimicrobial activity, biosensing, and cancer chemotherapeutics, and also show improved drug release potential. Recent developments in surface-functionalized nanoparticles include the design of antibacterial fabrics, biomimetics, biosensors for HER2, and detectors for heavy metal contamination in water and for food pathogens. Various immobilization techniques such as adsorption, entrapment, covalent binding, cross-linking, and affinity immobilization are applied to develop polymeric surface-functionalized nanoparticles with signal-transducing properties that find application in the development of improved diagnostics and targeted drug delivery. Surface functionalization of nanoparticles can be seen as a boon to modern science which has opened up a range of new possibilities for humanity. This chapter focuses on the recent advances in surface functionalization of nanoparticles and their immense applications in the modern era.