Nanogold-Based Sensing of Environmental Toxins: Excitement and Challenges

Abstract

There have been tremendous advances in the past ten years on the development of various nanomaterials-based sensors for detection of environmental toxins. Nanogold is of special interest because of its unique shape- and size-dependent optical properties, hyper-quenching ability, super surface-enhanced Raman and dynamic light scattering, and surface-modifiability by small organic molecules and biomolecules. These unique optical properties of nanogold have been explored for ultra-sensitive detection, while its surface-modifiability has been explored for selectivity. In general, the nanogold-based sensors are highly selective and sensitive along with simple sample preparation and sensor design. In this review article, we intend to capture some of the recent advances in nanogold-based sensor development and mechanistic studies, especially for bacteria, heavy metals, and nitroaromatic compounds. Undoubtedly, these developments will generate a lot of excitement for environmental scientists and toxicologists as well as the general public.

Keywords:

• Gold nanoparticle
• sensing
• bacteria
• metals
• nitroaromatics

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank various sources for financial support for some part of this research: NSF-PREM grant #DMR-0611539, ARO grant #W911NF-06-1-0512 through ERDC, and NIH/NCRR RCMI Grant #G12RR013459.This article is not an official U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance or policy statement. No official support or endorsement by the U.S. FDA is intended or should be inferred.