Photothermally Active Inorganic Nanoparticles: from Colloidal Solutions to Photothermally Active Printed Surfaces and Polymeric Nanocomposite Materials

Nanoparticles with absorption in Near-Infrared (NIR) region and subsequent efficient release of heat, are receiving great attention due to wide opportunities of applications in different fields including biotechnology and nanomedicine. However, the colloidal solutions of such nanoparticles may have limitations in effective application connected with long-term stability of nanoparticle solutions and possible re-usability. Therefore, this minireview focuses on the state-of-the art of research and application of photothermally active nanoparticles to engineer remotely activated materials with controllable photothermal properties: printed surfaces and polymeric nanocomposite materials. We highlight in this minireview different types of photothermally active nanoparticles (e.g. non-spherical gold nanoparticles, copper sulfide nanoparticles) that already have been applied for fabrication of printed patterns and polymeric nanocomposites, the properties of the resulting materials and further application opportunities.