Utilizing gold nanoparticles in plasmonic photothermal therapy for cancer treatment

In recent decades, significant attention has been directed towards gold nanoparticles due to their exceptional properties, capturing the interest of researchers globally. Their unique characteristics, such as localized surface plasmon resonance, high surface area to volume ratio, biocompatibility, and facile surface functionalization, render them highly suitable for diverse applications, ranging from optoelectronics and sensing to surface-enhanced spectroscopies and biomedical uses, particularly in the realm of photothermal therapy. Plasmonic photothermal therapy, an emerging biomedical technology, has garnered substantial interest for its potential in cancer treatment and management. This approach employs photothermal agents, such as gold nanoparticles, which absorb light in the near-infrared region. When these agents accumulate within cancer cells, the absorbed photon energy is converted into heat, inducing local hyperthermia. This localized effect selectively eliminates damaged cells adjacent to nanoparticles while sparing normal cells. Various shapes and sizes of gold nanoparticles have proven well-suited candidates for photothermal therapy. This paper provides an overview of the distinctive properties of gold nanoparticles. It delves into the surface functionalization techniques crucial for ensuring cancer cells' effective retention and targeting of gold nanoparticles. In this context, the present paper reviews diverse applications of gold nanoparticles with different shapes in plasmonic photothermal therapy, encompassing nanospheres, nanorods, nanoshells, nanostars, and nanocages.