Gold Nanomaterials as a Promising Integrated Tool for Diagnosis and Treatment of Pathogenic Infections—A Review

Abstract

This review summarizes research on functionalized gold nanomaterials as pathogen detection sensors and pathogen elimination integrated tools. After presenting the challenge of current severe threat from pathogenic bacteria and the increasingly serious growth rate of drug resistance, the first section mainly introduces the conspectus of gold nanostructures from synthesis, characterization, physicochemical properties and applications of gold nanomaterials. The next section deals with gold nanomaterials-based pathogen detection sensors such as colorimetric sensors, fluorescence sensors and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering sensors. We then discuss strategies based on gold nanomaterials for eliminating pathogenic infections, such as the dual sterilization strategy for grafting gold nanomaterials with antibacterial substances, photothermal antibacterial and photodynamic antibacterial methods. The fourth part briefly introduces the comprehensive strategy for diagnosis and sterilization of pathogen infection based on gold nanomaterials, such as the diagnosis and treatment strategy for pathogen infection using Roman signals real-time monitoring and photothermal sterilization. A concluding section that summarizes the current status and challenges of the novel diagnosis and treatment integrated strategy for pathogenic infections, gives an outlook on potential future perspectives.