Gold nanoparticles as efficient sensors in colorimetric detection of toxic metal ions: A review

Rapid and high precision detection of toxic metal ions is one of the chief requirements today to combat environment pollution. Gold nanoparticles play a key role in this by assisting the development of smart sensors and detection agents. Their high surface to volume ratio and unique optical property facilitates the development of high sensitive analytical GNP based bio-sensing tools. Recently, a major research thrust area has been the design and development of smartly fabricated GNPs as probes for selective detection of toxic contaminates and metal pollutants. In this review we focus on the use of GNPs and its functionalization for colorimetric detection of metal ions. Colorimetric detection enables cost effective and simple monitoring of toxic ions accompanied with the advantages of on-site applicability, avoids complex instrumentation, ease of analysis and usage. We also discuss the promising prospects and future potentiality of GNPs to serve as next generation multi-functional sensing tools and "lab-on-chip" detection agents. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.