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Putting gold nanocages to work for optical imaging, controlled release and cancer theranostics

    Bo Pang

    The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

    Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

    ,
    Xuan Yang

    The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

    &
    Younan Xia

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: younan.xia@bme.gatech.edu

    The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

    School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm-2016-0109

    Gold nanocages are hollow nanostructures with ultrathin, porous walls. They are bio-inert and their surface can be readily modified with functional groups to specifically interact with the biological system of interest. They have remarkable optical properties, including localized surface plasmon resonance peaks tunable to the near-infrared region, strong absorption and scattering, as well as two- and three-photon luminescence. With the establishment of robust protocols for both synthesis and surface functionalization, Au nanocages have been extensively explored for various biomedical applications. In this review, we begin with a brief account of the synthesis and properties of Au nanocages, and then highlight some of the recent developments in applying them to an array of biomedical applications related to optical imaging, controlled release and cancer theranostics.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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