Biomolecule-protected gold nanoclusters: synthesis and biomedical applications

Abstract

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) consist of a few to several hundred gold atoms with a core size of less than 2 nm. Gold nanoclusters are among the most stable metal nanoclusters and have attracted worldwide attention in the biomedical field due to their extraordinary physicochemical properties and excellent biocompatibility. This paper reviews the synthesis and recent research progress of AuNCs using biomolecules as templates. First, we present the synthesis of AuNCs using proteins, peptides, DNA and polysaccharides as templates. Then, recent research advances in AuNCs for bioimaging, disease therapy and drug delivery are discussed. Finally, some research ideas are proposed for future work on gold nanoclusters in biomedical fields. As the research progresses, we expect the bio-template gold nanoclusters to become an essential platform for biomedical applications.