ABSTRACT
Silica-based gold nanoshells have a unique design resulting in diverse optical properties that can be exploited for a multitude of biomedical applications. By varying the size of the silica core and gold outer shell, the nanoparticles can be fabricated to scatter or absorb light in the near-infrared, where penetration of light through tissue is at a maximum. This chapter discusses the multipurpose utility of these particles as agents in diagnostic imaging, photothermal cancer therapy, laser-tissue welding, drug delivery, and immunoassays. Silica-based gold nanoshells have been evaluated as prospective agents for the treatment of multiple cancers, for laser-tissue welding, and as delivery vehicles of drugs. J. M. Stern et al. also demonstrated the effectiveness of nanoshell-mediated photothermal therapy in vitro using a prostate cancer model. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that nanoshells may be used in combination with near-infrared light to cause localized heating that leads to irreversible damage of cancerous cells.
