Silver nanoparticles as labels for applications in bioassays

• We briefly discuss the properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).
• We mention functionalization methods for AgNPs.
• We describe applications of AgNPs in DNA, miRNA, protein and cell analysis.
• Silver labels are highly sensitive in bioassays.
• We discuss detection methods for silver labels.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted increasing attention for applications in bioanalytical chemistry because of their unique optical, electrical, chemical and catalytic properties. The review describes the properties of AgNPs and covers recent developments in bioanalytical applications based on the electrochemical, optical and catalytic properties of AgNPs.