Metallic Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications in Medicine

Abstract

The progress in nanoscience and advances in the fabrication, characterization, and modification of materials at the nanoscale have paved the way for the production and use of nanoparticles with different properties. Today, the chemical agents used in many therapies cannot achieve the desired effectiveness due to dose-dependent toxicity, low solubility and bioavailability, damage to non-target organs and tissues due to non-specificity, and side effects. Nanoparticle systems produced in different forms and compositions are one of the main approaches used to eliminate the negative aspects of conventional chemical agents. Among these nanoparticle systems, metallic nanoparticles represent a promising approach. During the last two decades, metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have drawn great attention due to their optical, electrical, and physicochemical properties as well as their size-dependent properties. The large surface to volume ratio and surface reactivity of metallic nanoparticles provide great potential for combining them with different biological/chemical agents, as well as they can also be formulated as a bioactive nanoplatform alone. In this regard, the present chapter summarizes the general aspects of metallic nanoparticles, common methods for synthesis, and various applications in the biomedical field.