Gold nanoparticle based fluorescent aptasensors: A chemical and biological detection perspective

Introduction: In recent decades, the development of simple and reliable techniques for detecting chemical and biological molecules has gained considerable importance. These methods have found extensive applications in different fields, including medicine, biotechnology, food safety, and environmental monitoring. Among these, aptasensors have attracted significant attention owing to their exceptional selectivity, high sensitivity, and versatility in targeting a wide range of analytes. Integrating aptasensors with nanotechnology, particularly gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), has revolutionized the efficiency and performance of these devices. Au NPs, with their unique features like as high surface-to-volume ratio, chemical stability, and extraordinary optical properties, serve as powerful tools for enhancing the aptasensor’s capabilities. These features enable signal amplification, reduction of nonspecific interference, and enhancement of accuracy and sensitivity. Methods: This review focuses on recent advances in fluorescent aptasensors amplified by Au NPs. It analyzes the various experiments undertaken to develop and apply these sensors and concludes with a discussion of the technology's future prospects. Results: The findings establish the capability of aptamer-Au NP hybrids to detect a broad spectrum of analytes—including mycotoxins, antibiotics, pesticides, heavy metals, and disease biomarkers—with exceptional sensitivity. Conclusion: This review emphasizes the powerful potential of aptamer-Au NP hybrids for biosensing applications and suggests a path for future work to move this technology from the lab into practical use.