Gold Nanoparticles as Antibacterial and Antiviral Agents: Biomedical Applications and Theranostic Potential

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) address several biomedical issues and they have garnered significant attention as incredibly promising materials. In recent years, many emerging infectious diseases caused by multi-resistant bacteria or viruses have given rise to some life-threatening disorders. In order to create novel medicines for the treatment of diseases and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, creative approaches are now necessary due to the dearth of new antibiotics. In this context, AuNPs have become a subject of interest for many research groups because of their good stability and excellent biocompatibility. According to various studies, AuNPs and gold-based compounds are very effective at killing bacteria and viruses by disrupting the cell membrane and inducing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and synergy. As an excellent drug carrier and large surface area, the antibacterial characteristics of AuNPs can be improved by altering their structure and size, or including other substances. After being modified and coupled with existing antibacterial medications, the AuNPs can play better antibacterial or antiviral activities against some novel diseases. This review focuses on AuNPs’ biological activities and their potential future biomedical applications as antiviral and antibacterial nanotheranostic agents.