What are gold nanoparticles?

Gold nanoparticles are gold atoms in solution that have been created by the process of adding a reducing agent to gold ions. The resulting products have optical and electronic properties that make them useful in a variety of applications, including sensory probes, electronic conductors and therapeutic agents.

Gold nanoparticles have several applications in the fields of health and medicine. They are used in diagnostics to detect biomarkers in infectious agents, cancer and heart disease. Gold nanoparticles kill tumor cells in a treatment known as hyperthermia therapy. The ability of gold nanoparticles to scatter light and produce colors makes them useful in biological imaging.