The use of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) is one of the most promising areas in the development of new sensors due to their high surface area, size-dependent physical properties, and ease of synthesis and functionalization. Our lab is interested in using gold nanoparticles with different morphologies, functionalized with specific ligands and conjugated with enzymes, antibodies and nucleic acids. These biomolecules will be envolved in specific biointeractions in biosensing/nanodiagnostics applications.

Other interesting applications of gold and silver nanoparticles are in SERS (Surface Enhanced Resonance Spectroscopy) detection. For this type of sensitive detection, the morphology and arquitecture of the nanoparticle assemblies are determinant factors.