Gold nanocage

Gold nanocages synthesis

Gold nanocage

Gold nanocages are a class of nanomaterials characterized by their hollow, porous structure and their composition of gold atoms. These nanocages have garnered significant interest in the fields of biomedicine, catalysis, and materials science due to their unique optical, chemical, and physical properties.

Structure and Synthesis

Gold nanocages typically exhibit a cubic or rectangular shape with a hollow interior and porous walls. The synthesis of gold nanocages often involves a galvanic replacement reaction, where a sacrificial template such as silver nanocubes is used. The silver nanocubes are exposed to a gold salt solution, leading to the gradual replacement of silver atoms with gold atoms, resulting in the formation of a hollow gold structure.

Properties

Gold nanocages possess several unique properties:

• Optical Properties: They exhibit strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which can be tuned by altering the size, shape, and wall thickness of the nanocages. This makes them highly suitable for applications in imaging and photothermal therapy.
• Chemical Properties: The gold surface of the nanocages is highly reactive and can be functionalized with various biomolecules, drugs, or polymers, enhancing their utility in targeted drug delivery and biosensing.
• Physical Properties: The hollow and porous nature of gold nanocages allows for the encapsulation and controlled release of therapeutic agents, making them ideal for drug delivery systems.

Applications

Gold nanocages have a wide range of applications, including:

• Biomedical Applications: Due to their biocompatibility and tunable SPR, gold nanocages are used in cancer therapy, particularly in photothermal therapy where they convert light into heat to destroy cancer cells. They are also employed in bioimaging techniques such as optical coherence tomography and photoacoustic imaging.
• Catalysis: The high surface area and reactivity of gold nanocages make them effective catalysts in various chemical reactions, including oxidation and reduction processes.
• Sensing: Gold nanocages are used in biosensors for the detection of biomarkers and pathogens due to their enhanced sensitivity and specificity.

Related Pages

• Nanomaterial
• Surface plasmon resonance
• Photothermal therapy
• Drug delivery system
• Biosensor
• Catalysis

See Also

• Gold nanoparticle
• Silver nanocube
• Nanomedicine
• Nanotechnology

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