title: Nanogold-based sensing of environmental toxins: excitement and challenges.
abstract: There have been tremendous advances in the past ten years on the development of various nanomaterials-based sensors for detection of environmental toxins. Nanogold is of special interest because of its unique shape- and size-dependent optical properties, hyper-quenching ability, super surface-enhanced Raman and dynamic light scattering, and surface-modifiability by small organic molecules and biomolecules. These unique optical properties of nanogold have been explored for ultra-sensitive detection, while its surface-modifiability has been explored for selectivity. In general, the nanogold-based sensors are highly selective and sensitive along with simple sample preparation and sensor design. In this review article, we intend to capture some of the recent advances in nanogold-based sensor development and mechanistic studies, especially for bacteria, heavy metals, and nitroaromatic compounds. Undoubtedly, these developments will generate a lot of excitement for environmental scientists and toxicologists as well as the general public.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA. paresh.c.ray@jsums.edu
authors.forename: Paresh Chandra
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Peter P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D008670:Metals; D014303:Trinitrotoluene; D006046:Gold