title: Polysaccharide-Based Materials Associated with or Coordinated to Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Medical Application.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have enormous potential for application in imaging, diagnosis, and therapies in the medical field. AuNPs are renowned for their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties, large surface area, and biocompatibility with body fluids. Further, AuNPs have featured prominently in new methodologies for cancer treatments, like photothermal and imaging therapies. Although AuNPs present enormous potential for application in the medical field, their instability under physiological conditions prevents further uses. However, this limitation may be overcome by associating AuNPs with biopolymers. To the best of our knowledge, a revision paper rationalizing the structure/property relationship and applications of AuNPspolysaccharide composites in the medical field has not been published yet.
  
  
  METHODS
  This manuscript discusses the most relevant aspects and state-of-art concepts surrounding the synthesis of AuNPs based on green chemistry and their association with polysaccharides that can efficiently function both as stabilizing and reducing agents of Au nanoparticles. Even more, polysaccharide devices may inhibit non-specific interactions between AuNPs and biological macromolecules, suppressing unsuitable "protein corona" formations on AuNP surfaces, thereby increasing the potential of AuNP composites of being employing as drug delivery matrices and wound-healing devices as well as in photothermal/ imaging purposes for cancer treatments and biosensors.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Environmental Engineering (PPGEA), Federal University of Technology (UTFPR-AP), 86812-460 Apucarana, PR. Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Facchi
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Materials Science & Engineering (PPGCEM), Federal University of Technology (UTFPR-LD), 86036-370 Londrina, PR. Brazil.
authors.forename: Joziel A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: da Cruz
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Technology (UTFPR-AP), 86812- 460 Apucarana, PR. Brazil.
authors.forename: Elton G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Bonafé
authors.affiliation: Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology (UTFPR-DV), 85660-000 Dois Vizinhos, PR. Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio G B
authors.initials: AGB
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Technology and Development of Polymeric Materials and Composites (LaCoPol), Center of Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Food Sciences, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), 96010-900 Pelotas, RS. Brazil.
authors.forename: André R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Technology (UTFPR-AP), 86812- 460 Apucarana, PR. Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandro A S
authors.initials: SAS
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Technology (UTFPR-AP), 86812- 460 Apucarana, PR. Brazil.
authors.forename: Johny P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Materials Science & Engineering (PPGCEM), Federal University of Technology (UTFPR-LD), 86036-370 Londrina, PR. Brazil.
authors.forename: Edvani C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Environmental Engineering (PPGEA), Federal University of Technology (UTFPR-AP), 86812-460 Apucarana, PR. Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandro F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D006046:Gold
keywords: Gold nanoparticles; biosensors; composites; drug delivery; medical imaging; photothermal therapy; polysaccharides; tissue engineering