10. Conclusion

Research into nanoparticles is very popular in the scientific community. But what really sets gold nanoparticles apart from other metals or oxides is that, as described in this article, they are of interest to a wide range of communities, from catalysis to optics, electronics, biology and medicine. Industrial and consumer applications are still in their infancy. But it is certain that the therapeutic applications of gold nanoparticles will have a major impact, as the promises are enormous. All these applications remain discreet, partly because such research is often governed by industrial secrecy, and partly because they have to demonstrate their health safety. In fact, the uncertainties in this field of research hinge above all on the question of how it will be received by society, since there are opposing currents of opinion. On the one hand, there is a genuine passion for technological...