{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T03:08:48Z","timestamp":1792120128801,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":106,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,16]],"date-time":"2024-10-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1729036800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Dana Gas Endowed Chair for Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah Faculty Research","award":["FRG20-L-E48"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FRG20-L-E48"]}]},{"name":"Dana Gas Endowed Chair for Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah Faculty Research","award":["FRG22-C-E08"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FRG22-C-E08"]}]},{"name":"Dana Gas Endowed Chair for Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah Faculty Research","award":["MRG\/18\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["MRG\/18\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences","award":["FRG20-L-E48"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FRG20-L-E48"]}]},{"name":"Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences","award":["FRG22-C-E08"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FRG22-C-E08"]}]},{"name":"Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences","award":["MRG\/18\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["MRG\/18\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP)","award":["FRG20-L-E48"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FRG20-L-E48"]}]},{"name":"Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP)","award":["FRG22-C-E08"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FRG22-C-E08"]}]},{"name":"Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP)","award":["MRG\/18\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["MRG\/18\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pharmaceutics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The remarkable versatility of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) makes them innovative agents across various fields, including drug delivery, biosensing, catalysis, bioimaging, and vaccine development. This paper provides a detailed review of the important role of AuNPs in drug delivery and therapeutics. We begin by exploring traditional drug delivery systems (DDS), highlighting the role of nanoparticles in revolutionizing drug delivery techniques. We then describe the unique and intriguing properties of AuNPs that make them exceptional for drug delivery. Their shapes, functionalization, drug-loading bonds, targeting mechanisms, release mechanisms, therapeutic effects, and cellular uptake methods are discussed, along with relevant examples from the literature. Lastly, we present the drug delivery applications of AuNPs across various medical domains, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, ocular diseases, and diabetes, with a focus on in vitro and in vivo cancer research.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics16101332","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,16]],"date-time":"2024-10-16T11:28:51Z","timestamp":1729078131000},"page":"1332","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":167,"title":["Review of Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Properties, Shapes, Cellular Uptake, Targeting, Release Mechanisms and Applications in Drug Delivery and Therapy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Joel","family":"Georgeous","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Biomedical Engineering Program, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nour","family":"AlSawaftah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering Ph.D. Program, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates"},{"name":"Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2424-1736","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Waad H.","family":"Abuwatfa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering Ph.D. Program, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates"},{"name":"Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7244-3105","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ghaleb A.","family":"Husseini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biomedical Engineering Program, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates"},{"name":"Materials Science and Engineering Ph.D. Program, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates"},{"name":"Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates"},{"name":"Biosciences and Bioengineering Ph.D. Program, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.4103\/2230-973X.96920","article-title":"Drug delivery systems: An updated review","volume":"2","author":"Tiwari","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Pharm. Investig."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Homayun, B., Lin, X., and Choi, H.-J. (2019). Challenges and recent progress in oral drug delivery systems for Biopharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutics, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics11030129"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rathi, R., Kumar, A., Vishvakarma, V., Huanbutta, K., Singh, I., and Sangnim, T. (2022). Advancements in Rectal Drug Delivery Systems: Clinical Trials, and Patents Perspective. Pharmaceutics, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics14102210"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Manchanda, S., Das, N., Chandra, A., Bandyopadhyay, S., and Chaurasia, S. (2020). Fabrication of advanced parenteral drug-delivery systems. Drug Delivery Systems, Elsevier.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-814487-9.00002-8"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.2174\/22103031113039990011","article-title":"Transmucosal drug delivery\u2014An overview","volume":"4","author":"Abhang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Drug Deliv. Lett."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"1616","article-title":"Approaches to pulmonary drug delivery systems","volume":"2","author":"Tangri","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"438","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics7040438","article-title":"Transdermal drug delivery: Innovative pharmaceutical developments based on disruption of the barrier properties of the stratum corneum","volume":"7","author":"Alkilani","year":"2015","journal-title":"Pharmaceutics"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.4103\/0974-620X.200692","article-title":"Applications of polymers in intraocular drug delivery systems","volume":"10","author":"Alhalafi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Oman J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4941","DOI":"10.1021\/acssuschemeng.0c00774","article-title":"Facile fabrication of biobased hydrogel from natural resources: L-cysteine, itaconic anhydride, and chitosan","volume":"8","author":"Lai","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lateef, A., Darwesh, O.M., and Matter, I.A. (2021). Microbial nanobiotechnology: The melting pot of microbiology, microbial technology and nanotechnology. Microbial Nanobiotechnology: Principles and Applications, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-33-4777-9_1"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"908","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arabjc.2017.05.011","article-title":"Nanoparticles: Properties, applications and toxicities","volume":"12","author":"Khan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Arab. J. Chem."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1050","DOI":"10.3762\/bjnano.9.98","article-title":"Review on nanoparticles and nanostructured materials: History, sources, toxicity and regulations","volume":"9","author":"Jeevanandam","year":"2018","journal-title":"Beilstein J. Nanotechnol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Afzal, O., Altamimi, A.S.A., Nadeem, M.S., Alzarea, S.I., Almalki, W.H., Tariq, A., Mubeen, B., Murtaza, B.N., Iftikhar, S., and Riaz, N. (2022). Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery: From History to Therapeutic Applications. Nanomaterials, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano12244494"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Harish, V., Tewari, D., Gaur, M., Yadav, A.B., Swaroop, S., Bechelany, M., and Barhoum, A. (2022). Review on nanoparticles and nanostructured materials: Bioimaging, biosensing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, antimicrobial, and agro-food applications. Nanomaterials, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano12030457"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcis.2013.11.063","article-title":"Direct interaction of hydrophilic gold nanoparticles with dexamethasone drug: Loading and release study","volume":"418","author":"Venditti","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Colloid Interface Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1007\/s13530-011-0109-y","article-title":"Review on gold nanoparticles and their applications","volume":"3","author":"Das","year":"2011","journal-title":"Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2918","DOI":"10.2174\/1381612823666170419105413","article-title":"Targeted drug delivery based on gold nanoparticle derivatives","volume":"23","author":"Gholipourmalekabadi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr. Pharm. Des."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chauhan, A., Khan, T., and Omri, A. (2021). Design and encapsulation of immunomodulators onto gold nanoparticles in cancer immunotherapy. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22158037"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1007\/s12013-018-0863-4","article-title":"Recent advances of gold nanoparticles in biomedical applications: State of the art","volume":"77","author":"Aminabad","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cell Biochem. Biophys."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"705","DOI":"10.1007\/s10876-022-02287-6","article-title":"Gold nanoparticles: Synthesis methods, functionalization and biological applications","volume":"34","author":"Patil","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Clust. Sci."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"923","DOI":"10.1039\/C9SC06497D","article-title":"Surface chemistry of gold nanoparticles for health-related applications","volume":"11","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chem. Sci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"831","DOI":"10.1021\/mp3005885","article-title":"Multifunctional gold nanoparticles for diagnosis and therapy of disease","volume":"10","author":"Mieszawska","year":"2013","journal-title":"Mol. Pharm."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1186\/1477-3155-8-33","article-title":"Size-dependent endocytosis of gold nanoparticles studied by three-dimensional mapping of plasmonic scattering images","volume":"8","author":"Wang","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Nanobiotechnol."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"1","article-title":"Biological interaction and imaging of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles","volume":"16","author":"Sang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nano-Micro Lett."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2086","DOI":"10.2174\/092986711795656199","article-title":"Cancer-targeting multifunctionalized gold nanoparticles in imaging and therapy","volume":"18","author":"Yan","year":"2011","journal-title":"Curr. Med. Chem."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12943-023-01798-8","article-title":"Gold nanoparticles and gold nanorods in the landscape of cancer therapy","volume":"22","author":"Kesharwani","year":"2023","journal-title":"Mol. Cancer"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2679","DOI":"10.1039\/C2CS35367A","article-title":"Gold nanorods and their plasmonic properties","volume":"42","author":"Chen","year":"2013","journal-title":"Chem. Soc. Rev."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12247","DOI":"10.1021\/ja204578e","article-title":"Light-induced release of DNA from gold nanoparticles: Nanoshells and nanorods","volume":"133","author":"Huschka","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3636","DOI":"10.1007\/s12010-023-04719-z","article-title":"Bioinspired and green synthesis of silver nanoparticles for medical applications: A green perspective","volume":"196","author":"Arshad","year":"2024","journal-title":"Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"D\u00edaz Gonz\u00e1lez, M., de la Escosura Mu\u00f1iz, A., Fernandez Arg\u00fcelles, M.T., Alonso, F.J.G., and Costa Fernandez, J.M. (2020). Quantum dot bioconjugates for diagnostic applications. Surface-Modified Nanobiomaterials for Electrochemical and Biomedicine Applications, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-55502-3_5"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhang, T.-G., and Miao, C.-Y. (2024). Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Promising Antibacterial Agents of New Generation. Nanomaterials, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano14151311"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Capek, I. (2015). ChemInform Abstract: Preparation and functionalization of gold nanoparticles. ChemInform, 46.","DOI":"10.1002\/chin.201540226"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17042","DOI":"10.1021\/ja907069u","article-title":"Synthesis and surface modification of highly monodispersed, spherical gold nanoparticles of 50\u2212200 nm","volume":"131","author":"Perrault","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yu, X., Wang, Z., Cui, H., Wu, X., Chai, W., Wei, J., Chen, Y., and Zhang, Z. (2022). A Review on Gold Nanotriangles: Synthesis, Self-Assembly and Their Applications. Molecules, 27.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules27248766"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"534070","DOI":"10.1155\/2015\/534070","article-title":"Preparation, modification, and application of hollow gold nanospheres","volume":"2015","author":"Ren","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Nanomater."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2039","DOI":"10.7150\/thno.17098","article-title":"Size dependent kinetics of gold nanorods in EPR mediated tumor delivery","volume":"6","author":"Tong","year":"2016","journal-title":"Theranostics"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addr.2011.03.005","article-title":"Gold nanorods: Their potential for photothermal therapeutics and drug delivery, tempered by the complexity of their biological interactions","volume":"64","author":"Alkilany","year":"2012","journal-title":"Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"1","article-title":"The effect of shape on cellular uptake of gold nanoparticles in the forms of stars, rods, and triangles","volume":"7","author":"Xie","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2016.08.014","article-title":"Gold nanostars for efficient in vitro and in vivo real-time SERS detection and drug delivery via plasmonic-tunable Raman\/FTIR imaging","volume":"106","author":"Tian","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1007\/s10847-020-01035-5","article-title":"Synthesis, optical properties and photherapy applications of gold nanostars","volume":"99","author":"Deveci","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Incl. Phenom. Macrocycl. Chem."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1208\/s12249-014-0097-8","article-title":"Light-activatable gold nanoshells for drug delivery applications","volume":"15","author":"Singhana","year":"2014","journal-title":"AAPS PharmSciTech"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"577","DOI":"10.1517\/17425240903571614","article-title":"Targeting gold nanocages to cancer cells for photothermal destruction and drug delivery","volume":"7","author":"Cobley","year":"2010","journal-title":"Expert Opin. Drug Deliv."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"687","DOI":"10.1021\/nl403949h","article-title":"Shape and orientation matter for the cellular uptake of nonspherical particles","volume":"14","author":"Dasgupta","year":"2014","journal-title":"Nano Lett."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9823","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S279094","article-title":"A review on the synthesis and functionalization of gold nanoparticles as a drug delivery vehicle","volume":"15","author":"Amina","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Nanomed."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1039\/df9511100055","article-title":"A study of the nucleation and growth processes in the synthesis of colloidal gold","volume":"11","author":"Turkevich","year":"1951","journal-title":"Discuss. Faraday Soc."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1315","DOI":"10.2217\/nnm.14.219","article-title":"Gold nanoparticle surface functionalization: A necessary requirement in the development of novel nanotherapeutics","volume":"10","author":"Nicol","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nanomedicine"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8648","DOI":"10.1021\/ja047846d","article-title":"Room temperature, high-yield synthesis of multiple shapes of gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution","volume":"126","author":"Sau","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10143","DOI":"10.1021\/la500914j","article-title":"Time and temperature effects on the digestive ripening of gold nanoparticles: Is there a crossover from digestive ripening to Ostwald ripening?","volume":"30","author":"Sahu","year":"2014","journal-title":"Langmuir"},{"key":"ref_49","first-page":"1","article-title":"Biosynthesis of nanoparticles by microorganisms and their applications","volume":"2011","author":"Li","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Nanomater."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6799","DOI":"10.1007\/s00253-018-9146-7","article-title":"Role of plant phytochemicals and microbial enzymes in biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles","volume":"102","author":"Ovais","year":"2018","journal-title":"Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"275","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S233789","article-title":"Recent developments in the facile bio-synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their biomedical applications","volume":"15","author":"Lee","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Nanomed."},{"key":"ref_52","first-page":"46","article-title":"Phyto-assisted synthesis, characterization and applications of gold nanoparticles\u2014A review","volume":"11","author":"Santhoshkumar","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biochem. Biophys. Rep."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8774","DOI":"10.1039\/D0CS01121E","article-title":"Active targeting of gold nanoparticles as cancer therapeutics","volume":"49","author":"Goddard","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chem. Soc. Rev."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11694","DOI":"10.1021\/ja0355731","article-title":"Heterophase ligand exchange and metal transfer between monolayer protected clusters","volume":"125","author":"Song","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sanit\u00e0, G., Carrese, B., and Lamberti, A. (2020). Nanoparticle surface functionalization: How to improve biocompatibility and cellular internalization. Front. Mol. Biosci., 7.","DOI":"10.3389\/fmolb.2020.587012"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1304","DOI":"10.1083\/jcb.102.4.1304","article-title":"Specific binding sites for albumin restricted to plasmalemmal vesicles of continuous capillary endothelium: Receptor-mediated transcytosis","volume":"102","author":"Ghitescu","year":"1986","journal-title":"J. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1934","DOI":"10.1021\/mp900172m","article-title":"Regulating immune response using polyvalent nucleic acid\u2212gold nanoparticle conjugates","volume":"6","author":"Massich","year":"2009","journal-title":"Mol. Pharm."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"663","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addr.2012.05.004","article-title":"Therapeutic platforms based on gold nanoparticles and their covalent conjugates with drug molecules","volume":"65","author":"Vigderman","year":"2012","journal-title":"Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev."},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"154","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.langmuir.7b02354","article-title":"Surface modification of cisplatin-complexed gold nanoparticles and its influence on colloidal stability, drug loading, and drug release","volume":"34","author":"Tan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Langmuir"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"804","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nano.2012.01.008","article-title":"Gold nanoparticles: The importance of physiological principles to devise strategies for targeted drug delivery","volume":"8","author":"Papasani","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nanomedicine"},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"748","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addr.2007.06.008","article-title":"Endocytic mechanisms for targeted drug delivery","volume":"59","author":"Bareford","year":"2007","journal-title":"Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev."},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"815","DOI":"10.1002\/adfm.201201663","article-title":"Gold Nanoshell Nanomicelles for Potential Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Light-Triggered Drug Release, and Photothermal Therapy","volume":"23","author":"Ma","year":"2012","journal-title":"Adv. Funct. Mater."},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpharm.2015.05.032","article-title":"Doxorubicin loaded magnetic gold nanoparticles for in vivo targeted drug delivery","volume":"490","author":"Elbialy","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Pharm."},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ejigah, V., Owoseni, O., Bataille-Backer, P., Ogundipe, O.D., Fisusi, F.A., and Adesina, S.K. (2022). Approaches to improve macromolecule and nanoparticle accumulation in the tumor microenvironment by the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Polymers, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym14132601"},{"key":"ref_65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Veeren, A., Ogunyankin, M.O., Shin, J.E., and Zasadzinski, J.A. (2022). Liposome-tethered gold nanoparticles triggered by pulsed NIR light for rapid liposome contents release and endosome escape. Pharmaceutics, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics14040701"},{"key":"ref_66","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Siddique, S., and Chow, J.C.L. (2020). Gold nanoparticles for drug delivery and cancer therapy. Appl. Sci., 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/app10113824"},{"key":"ref_67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.2174\/1877912311202010034","article-title":"Smart delivery and controlled drug release with gold nanoparticles: New frontiers in nanomedicine","volume":"2","author":"Voliani","year":"2012","journal-title":"Recent Pat. Nanomed."},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"372","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejpb.2017.07.009","article-title":"Synthesis and characterization of a multifunctional gold-doxorubicin nanoparticle system for pH triggered intracellular anticancer drug release","volume":"119","author":"Khutale","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm."},{"key":"ref_69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7626","DOI":"10.1021\/ja015556g","article-title":"Inhibition of DNA transcription using cationic mixed monolayer protected gold clusters","volume":"123","author":"McIntosh","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_70","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"636","DOI":"10.1021\/nl802990w","article-title":"Multifunctional cytotoxic stealth nanoparticles. A model approach with potential for cancer therapy","volume":"9","author":"Schneider","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nano Lett."},{"key":"ref_71","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3822","DOI":"10.1021\/ja809236a","article-title":"Light-regulated activation of cellular signaling by gold nanoparticles that capture and release amines","volume":"131","author":"Nakanishi","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_72","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2417","DOI":"10.1007\/s13346-024-01516-x","article-title":"Green synthesis of anti-cancer drug-loaded gold nanoparticles for low-intensity pulsed ultrasound targeted drug release","volume":"14","author":"Jakhmola","year":"2024","journal-title":"Drug Deliv. Transl. Res."},{"key":"ref_73","unstructured":"Zereshkian, G.H., Tavakkoli, J., and Rod, K. (2019). Hand-Held Battery-Operated Therapeutic Ultrasonic Device. (20190184202A1), U.S. Patent."},{"key":"ref_74","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3235","DOI":"10.1039\/C8TB00368H","article-title":"Smart gold nanoparticle-stabilized ultrasound microbubbles as cancer theranostics","volume":"6","author":"Yoon","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Mater. Chem. B"},{"key":"ref_75","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yang, W., Liang, H., Ma, S., Wang, D., and Huang, J. (2019). Gold nanoparticle based photothermal therapy: Development and application for effective cancer treatment. Sustain. Mater. Technol., 22.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.susmat.2019.e00109"},{"key":"ref_76","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1137","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addr.2008.03.008","article-title":"Micelles and nanoparticles for ultrasonic drug and gene delivery","volume":"60","author":"Husseini","year":"2008","journal-title":"Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev."},{"key":"ref_77","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lopes-Nunes, J., Agonia, A.S., Rosado, T., Gallardo, E., Palmeira-De-Oliveira, R., Palmeira-De-Oliveira, A., Martinez-De-Oliveira, J., Fonseca-Moutinho, J., Campello, M.P.C., and Paiva, A. (2021). Aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles for drug delivery to gynecological carcinoma cells. Cancers, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers13164038"},{"key":"ref_78","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8285","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S215142","article-title":"Functional design of pH-responsive folate-targeted polymer-coated gold nanoparticles for drug delivery and in vivo therapy in breast cancer","volume":"14","author":"Mahalunkar","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Nanomed."},{"key":"ref_79","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1730","DOI":"10.1158\/1535-7163.MCT-08-0016","article-title":"In vitro and in vivo targeting of hollow gold nanoshells directed at epidermal growth factor receptor for photothermal ablation therapy","volume":"7","author":"Melancon","year":"2008","journal-title":"Mol. Cancer Ther."},{"key":"ref_80","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1111\/odi.13551","article-title":"Function of gold nanoparticles in oral cancer beyond drug delivery: Implications in cell apoptosis","volume":"27","author":"Essawy","year":"2020","journal-title":"Oral Dis."},{"key":"ref_81","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8479","DOI":"10.1002\/anie.201903256","article-title":"Tuning the in vivo transport of anticancer drugs using renal-clearable gold nanoparticles","volume":"58","author":"Peng","year":"2019","journal-title":"Angew. Chem. Int. Ed."},{"key":"ref_82","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10643","DOI":"10.1021\/ja801631c","article-title":"Highly efficient drug delivery with gold nanoparticle vectors for in vivo photodynamic therapy of cancer","volume":"130","author":"Cheng","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_83","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jconrel.2016.08.041","article-title":"Targeted systemic delivery of siRNA to cervical cancer model using cyclic RGD-installed unimer polyion complex-assembled gold nanoparticles","volume":"244","author":"Yi","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Control. Release"},{"key":"ref_84","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s11671-020-03297-x","article-title":"Designing aptamer-gold nanoparticle-loaded pH-sensitive liposomes encapsulate morin for treating cancer","volume":"15","author":"Ding","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nanoscale Res. Lett."},{"key":"ref_85","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"416","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejmech.2017.08.063","article-title":"Doxorubicin-loaded oligonucleotide conjugated gold nanoparticles: A promising in vivo drug delivery system for colorectal cancer therapy","volume":"142","author":"Lee","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. J. Med. Chem."},{"key":"ref_86","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actbio.2015.05.028","article-title":"Efficient RNA delivery by integrin-targeted glutathione responsive polyethyleneimine capped gold nanorods","volume":"23","author":"Wang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Acta Biomater."},{"key":"ref_87","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"578","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2016.06.007","article-title":"Doxorubicin-loaded fucoidan capped gold nanoparticles for drug delivery and photoacoustic imaging","volume":"91","author":"Manivasagan","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"ref_88","first-page":"187","article-title":"Gold nanoparticles conjugated with cisplatin\/doxorubicin\/capecitabine lower the chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cancer cells","volume":"21","author":"Tomuleasa","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Gastrointestin Liver Dis."},{"key":"ref_89","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1180","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2011.10.058","article-title":"Gold nanoparticles functionalized with therapeutic and targeted peptides for cancer treatment","volume":"33","author":"Kumar","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"ref_90","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"791","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S97476","article-title":"Targeted polyethylene glycol gold nanoparticles for the treatment of pancreatic cancer: From synthesis to proof-of-concept in vitro studies","volume":"11","author":"Spadavecchia","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Nanomed."},{"key":"ref_91","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"665","DOI":"10.1007\/s10856-009-3895-x","article-title":"In vitro photothermal study of gold nanoshells functionalized with small targeting peptides to liver cancer cells","volume":"21","author":"Liu","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Med."},{"key":"ref_92","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.1016\/j.canlet.2008.09.024","article-title":"In vitro cancer cell imaging and therapy using transferrin-conjugated gold nanoparticles","volume":"274","author":"Li","year":"2008","journal-title":"Cancer Lett."},{"key":"ref_93","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3679","DOI":"10.1021\/nn200007z","article-title":"Doxorubicin-tethered responsive gold nanoparticles facilitate intracellular drug delivery for overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer cells","volume":"5","author":"Wang","year":"2011","journal-title":"ACS Nano"},{"key":"ref_94","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138","DOI":"10.1021\/bc800362j","article-title":"Conjugation of Kahalalide F with gold nanoparticles to enhance in vitro antitumoral activity","volume":"20","author":"Hosta","year":"2008","journal-title":"Bioconjug. Chem."},{"key":"ref_95","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, Y., and Feng, X. (2022). Gold nanoparticles for skin drug delivery. Int. J. Pharm., 625.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpharm.2022.122122"},{"key":"ref_96","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Apaolaza, P., Busch, M., Asin-Prieto, E., Peynshaert, K., Rathod, R., Remaut, K., D\u00fcnker, N., and G\u00f6pferich, A. (2020). Hyaluronic acid coating of gold nanoparticles for intraocular drug delivery: Evaluation of the surface properties and effect on their distribution. Exp. Eye Res., 198.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exer.2020.108151"},{"key":"ref_97","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alomari, G., Hamdan, S., and Al-Trad, B. (2021). Gold nanoparticles as a promising treatment for diabetes and its complications: Current and future potentials. Braz. J. Pharm. Sci., 57.","DOI":"10.1590\/s2175-97902020000419040"},{"key":"ref_98","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s42452-020-2835-8","article-title":"Antibiotic delivery using gold nanoparticles","volume":"2","author":"Fuller","year":"2020","journal-title":"SN Appl. Sci."},{"key":"ref_99","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1662","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.nanolett.9b04788","article-title":"Osmotic concentration-controlled particle uptake and wrapping-induced lysis of cells and vesicles","volume":"20","author":"Yu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nano Lett."},{"key":"ref_100","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijvsm.2017.02.003","article-title":"Antibacterial effect of gold nanoparticles against Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis","volume":"5","author":"Mohamed","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Vet.-Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref_101","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopha.2018.07.130","article-title":"Gold nanoparticles: A plausible tool to combat neurological bacterial infections in humans","volume":"107","author":"Rizvi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Biomed. Pharmacother."},{"key":"ref_102","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhang, J., Ma, A., and Shang, L. (2018). Conjugating existing clinical drugs with gold nanoparticles for better treatment of heart diseases. Front. Physiol., 9.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2018.00642"},{"key":"ref_103","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1186\/1878-5085-4-20","article-title":"Development and testing of gold nanoparticles for drug delivery and treatment of heart failure: A theranostic potential for PPP cardiology","volume":"4","author":"Spivak","year":"2013","journal-title":"EPMA J."},{"key":"ref_104","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1007\/s11010-013-1785-5","article-title":"Bisoprolol reversed small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (SK) remodeling in a volume-overload rat model","volume":"384","author":"Ni","year":"2013","journal-title":"Mol. Cell. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_105","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4204","DOI":"10.1039\/C4TB00383G","article-title":"Gold nanoparticles and gold nanoparticle-conjugates for delivery of therapeutic molecules. Progress and challenges","volume":"2","author":"Fratoddi","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Mater. Chem. B"},{"key":"ref_106","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1513","DOI":"10.2217\/nnm-2018-0139","article-title":"Nanoparticle crossing of blood\u2013brain barrier: A road to new therapeutic approaches to central nervous system diseases","volume":"13","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nanomedicine"}],"container-title":["Pharmaceutics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1999-4923\/16\/10\/1332\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T16:14:39Z","timestamp":1760112879000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1999-4923\/16\/10\/1332"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,16]]},"references-count":106,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10]]}},"alternative-id":["pharmaceutics16101332"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/pharmaceutics16101332","relation":{},"ISSN":["1999-4923"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1999-4923","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,16]]}}}