Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have been extensively developed as contrast agents, theranostic platforms, and probes for molecular imaging. This popularity has yielded a large number of AuNP designs that vary in size, shape, surface functionalization, and assembly, to match very closely the requirements for various imaging applications. Hence, AuNP based probes for molecular imaging allow the use of computed tomography (CT), fluorescence, and other forms of optical imaging, photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other newer techniques. The unique physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and highly developed chemistry of AuNP have facilitated breakthroughs in molecular imaging that allow the detection and imaging of physiological processes with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. In this Review, we summarize the recent advances in molecular imaging achieved using novel AuNP structures, cell tracking using AuNP, targeted AuNP for cancer imaging, and activatable AuNP probes. Finally, the perspectives and current limitations for the clinical translation of AuNP based probes are discussed.

中文翻译：

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金纳米粒子分子成像的最新进展。

金纳米粒子 (AuNP) 已被广泛开发为造影剂、治疗诊断平台和分子成像探针。这种流行已经产生了大量尺寸、形状、表面功能化和组装各异的 AuNP 设计，以非常紧密地匹配各种成像应用的要求。因此，基于 AuNP 的分子成像探针允许使用计算机断层扫描 (CT)、荧光和其他形式的光学成像、光声成像 (PAI) 和磁共振成像 (MRI) 以及其他新技术。AuNP 独特的理化性质、生物相容性和高度发达的化学特性促进了分子成像领域的突破，使生理过程的检测和成像具有高灵敏度和空间分辨率。在这篇综述中，我们总结了使用新型 AuNP 结构、使用 AuNP 进行细胞追踪、用于癌症成像的靶向 AuNP 以及可激活 AuNP 探针所取得的分子成像的最新进展。最后，讨论了基于 AuNP 的探针临床转化的前景和当前的局限性。