Functionalized Silver Nanoparticles for Sensing, Molecular Imaging and Therapeutic Applications

Background: In recent years, nanotechnology-based biomedical platforms aid characteristic dimensions in the field of biomedicine as compared to the conventional strategies. This nanotechnological intervention carries widespread biomedical avenues in the diagnosis and treatment of an array of dreadful diseases. Objective: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have the inherent property of immense biological potential such as antimicrobial and anticancer activity. AgNPs also show tremendous optical and electrical properties suggesting its candidature as promising bio-sensing agent thereby promoting environmental and biological management. The use of AgNPs as contrast agents could be exploited for enhanced bio-imaging of cellular and sub-cellular organelles giving insight into the mechanism of action of the administered drugs. More importantly, functionalized AgNPs have been driven a new wave of innovation in developing targeted drug delivery and theranostics. In this article, we summarize the current status and progress of functionalized AgNPs-based nanoplatform for biomedical applications with an emphasis on sensing, molecular imaging, and theranostics. Main Text: The present review focuses on the importance of functionalized AgNPs towards enhanced biosensing, bio-imaging and theranostics applications as compared to the conventional modalities. It also clarifies the importance of functionalization to increase the efficacy of bio-sensing, bio-imaging and theranostic modalities. Future Perspectives: The present review not only emphasizes the biomedical importance of functionalized AgNPs but also scrutinizes its widespread avenues in the near future for the transformation into clinical translation.