Gold nanocages as multifunctional materials for nanomedicine

Featured by tunable localized surface plasmon resonance peaks in the near-infrared region and hollow interiors, Au nanocages represent a novel class of multifunctional nanomaterials that have gained considerable attention in recent years. This short review summarizes our recent work on the capabilities of Au nanocages in nanomedicine. We start with a brief description of the synthesis of Au nanocages and highlight our recent protocols for the scaled-up production of Au nanocages. We then use a number of examples to illustrate how Au nanocages can contribute to nanomedicine with respect to both diagnosis and therapy.