Gold and Silver Nanoparticles for Diagnostics of Infection

The use of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), particularly gold and silver, in biomolecular applications has surged, ranging from innovative strategies for molecular diagnostics to radical new ways of treatment. Taking advantage of the particular optical-chemical characteristics of these metal NPs, every year new methods of molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases are reported providing higher analytical capability, sensitivity, and throughput at lower costs and with the possibility to be used where needed. Gold and silver NPs, or a combination of both, possess amazing optical/spectral properties, such as the intense localized surface plasmon resonance that, together with the ease of surface modification and functionalization with biomolecules capable of specific molecular recognition, have provided new strategies for molecular analysis, extending the detection limit of current nucleic acid and protein-based assays.This chapter focuses on the methods used for diagnostic of infectious diseases that take advantage of noble metal NPs. It discusses their use in biomolecular recognition and their most promising approaches, and it compares their advantages and disadvantages.