Gold Nanocages as Photothermal Transducers for Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Gold nanocages represent a new class of nanomaterials with compact size and tunable optical properties in the near-infrared region. They passively accumulate in the tumor after intravenous injection. By exposing tumors to a near-infrared diode laser, the photothermal effect of the Au nanocages selectively destroys tumor tissue with minimum damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.