Smart Biodecorated Hybrid Nanoparticles

The preparation and decoration of smart composite nanoparticles have been reported. The noble metal nanomaterials, quatum dots, silica-based nanostructures and their nanoconjugates possess physical and chemical properties that strongly deviated from those typical for bulk materials. The structure of composits consists of a core and is usually coated with a shell. The shell acts as an external envelop which enhances the colloidal stability of nanoconjugates and photoluminescence properties of the QDs and renders protection to the core of the nanocrystal from photo-initiated degradation. The preparation and modification of the smart nanostructures are described. Biodecorated hybrid nanostructures with different functional ligands used for various bioanalytical applications have been also reported. The composite nanoparticles coated by organic shells with functional groups were considered to govern the covalent immobilization of biomolecules. The hybrid nano(bio)materials namely silica- and noble metal- based nanomaterials have recently been explored and are used for imaging and therapeutic applications. The enhanced cellular drug delivery to cancer cell lines via nanoconjugates revealed that PEG-covered gold nanoparticles are an effective tool for transporting and delivering platinum-bassed drugs. Biodecorated nanoparticles provide opportunities for designing various types of therapeutics with novel properties that are not possible to obtain with traditional therapeutics.