Bioconjugated luminescent nanoparticles for biological applications

Inorganic nanostructures that interface with biological systems have recently attracted widespread interest in biology and medicine. Nanoparticles are thought to have potential as novel luminescent probes for both diagnostic (e.g., imaging) and therapeutic (e.g., drug delivery) purposes because of their size comparable to biomolecules and their novel optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. Critical issues for successful nanoparticle delivery include the ability to target specific tissues and cell types and escape from the biological particulate filter known as reticuloendothelial system. Three distinct types of luminescent nanoparticles have been identified which show promise in bioanalysis, namely dye-doped nanoparticles, semiconductor and metal nanoparticles. In this article we examine the recent advances in the development of dye-doped nanoparticles, metal and semiconductor nanoparticles, bioconjugation schemes to attach these nanoparticles to biomolecules and a few biological applications.