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Background: Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with unique physicochemical properties have received a great deal of interest in the field of biological, chemical and biomedical implementations. Despite the widespread use of AuNPs in chemical and biological sensing, catalysis, imaging and diagnosis, and more recently in therapy, no comprehensive summary has been provided to explain how AuNPs could aid in developing improved sensing and catalysts systems as well as medical settings., Scope of Review: The chemistry of Au-based nanosystems was followed by reviewing different applications of Au nanomaterials in biological and chemical sensing, catalysis, imaging and diagnosis by a number of approaches, and finally synergistic combination therapy of different cancers. Afterwards, the clinical impacts of AuNPs, future application of AuNPs, and opportunities and challenges of AuNPs application were also discussed., Major Conclusions: AuNPs show exclusive colloidal stability and are considered as ideal candidates for colorimetric detection, catalysis, imaging, and photothermal transducers, because their physicochemical properties can be tuned by adjusting their structural dimensions achieved by the different manufacturing methods., General Significance: This review provides some details about using AuNPs in sensing and catalysis applications as well as promising theranostic nanoplatforms for cancer imaging and diagnosis, and sensitive, non-invasive, and synergistic methods for cancer treatment in an almost comprehensive manner., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Many different materials have been tested for β-glucosidases immobilization. Such materials, however, often show a poor activity related to a low surface area of the support or even enzyme hindrance caused by entrapment inside porous matrix. In this context, the use of nanosized zeolites as enzymes support is quite new and may be an interesting alternative. The present work evaluates the immobilization of β-glucosidases in nanosized silicalites by covalent coupling. The new biocatalyst was able to convert 100% of cellobiose into glucose in 18 h at 50 °C and pH 5, retaining 85% of its activity after five cycles of reuse. A detailed investigation of the published literature indicates that, apparently, this is the first work concerning the immobilization of β-glucosidases on nanosized zeolites ever reported.