Gold Nanoparticle Platforms for Targeted Drug Delivery Applications

Gold nanoparticles offer a versatile platform for precise drug delivery, combining tunable physicochemical properties with multifunctional surface chemistry. Their core–shell architecture and nanoscale dimensions enable efficient circulation and uptake within biological systems. Passive targeting exploits the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect in tumours, while active targeting employs ligands such as antibodies, peptides or carbohydrates to direct nanoparticles to specific cell types. Surface functionalisation strategies allow the attachment of therapeutic agents and imaging probes, ensuring biocompatibility and controlled release. Stimuli-responsive designs, triggered by pH, redox gradients or enzymes, permit on-demand drug liberation at disease sites, reducing off-target toxicity. Furthermore, gold’s plasmonic properties afford photothermal conversion for combined thermal therapy and controlled release. Recent advances include multifunctional core–shell assemblies, hybrid organic–inorganic constructs and integrated imaging capabilities, underscoring the global significance of gold nanoparticle platforms in precision medicine.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A green synthesis approach using marine carrageenan oligosaccharide yielded uniform gold nanoparticles loaded with epirubicin, achieving pH-triggered drug release under tumour-like acidic conditions while maintaining stability at physiological pH. Cellular studies demonstrated enhanced nuclear localisation and apoptosis induction in colorectal and hepatic carcinoma cells compared with free drug. This work exemplifies the integration of biocompatible polymers for stimuli-responsive delivery and improved therapeutic index.

Gold Nanoparticle Platforms for Targeted Drug Delivery Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in gold nanoparticle platforms for targeted drug delivery applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect: Passive accumulation of nanoparticles in tumour tissue due to leaky vasculature and impaired lymphatic drainage.

Surface functionalisation: Chemical modification of nanoparticle surfaces with ligands or polymers to confer targeting specificity, stability and biocompatibility.

Stimuli-responsive release: Controlled liberation of therapeutic payloads triggered by environmental cues such as pH, enzymes or redox gradients.

Ligand conjugation: Covalent or non-covalent attachment of targeting molecules (e.g. antibodies, peptides, carbohydrates) to nanoparticle surfaces for receptor-mediated uptake.

Photothermal conversion efficiency: The fraction of absorbed light energy converted into heat by plasmonic nanoparticles, enabling thermal therapy and on-demand drug release.

References

1. Monosaccharide coating modulate the intracellular trafficking of gold nanoparticles in dendritic cells. Materials Today Bio (2024).
2. Thiol functionalised gold nanoparticles loaded with methotrexate for cancer treatment: From synthesis to in vitro studies on neuroblastoma cell lines. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2023).
3. Epirubicin-loaded marine carrageenan oligosaccharide capped gold nanoparticle system for pH-triggered anticancer drug release. Scientific Reports (2019).
4. Unique Roles of Gold Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery, Targeting and Imaging Applications. Molecules (2017).
5. Gold Nanoparticles: Construction for Drug Delivery and Application in Cancer Immunotherapy. Pharmaceutics (2023).