Review of applications and environmental fate of gold nanoparticles

The unique properties of nanomaterials do enable them to contribute significantly to environmental protection; however at the same time, they also have a significant negative impact on the environment as well as on living organisms. Among the existing nanomaterials, gold nanoparticle (GNP) is quickly gaining grounds due to its wide ranging uses in the field of medicine, especially radiation therapy and targeted drug delivery. Apparently, the increased production, application and disposal of GNPs have led to an increased release of nanogold into the environment and there are very few studies that bring out the implications of such release. This study aims to review various applications of GNPs and their fate in the environment.