title: Polymer-functionalized gold nanoparticles as versatile sensing materials.
abstract: In this brief review, gold nanoparticles conjugated with functional polymers are described from the viewpoint of application to sensing materials. The optical properties of gold nanoparticles, the synthesis of polymer-functionalized gold nanoparticles, and their analytical applications are discussed. Polymer-functionalized gold nanoparticles are categorized into two classes: biopolymer-conjugated gold nanoparticles and artificial-polymer conjugated gold nanoparticles. Fluorometric and colorimetric sensing using gold nanoparticles are focused; fluorometric detection enables us to exploit sensitive assays for practical use. Furthermore, chemical amplification using gold nanoparticles is also discussed for the sensitive probing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, Japan. ueharan@cc.utsunomiya-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uehara
mesh_terms: D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; D003124:Colorimetry; D005470:Fluorometry; D006046:Gold; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D015335:Molecular Probes; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015335:Molecular Probes; D011108:Polymers; D006046:Gold