Facile Synthesis and Photothermal Stability of Silica-Coated Gold Nanoworms

Yaqub M., Khan G. A., Qayyum H., Ghanem M. A., Nadeem A., Abbas Q., ...More

ChemistrySelect, vol.10, no.34, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 10 Issue: 34
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/slct.202500580
  • Journal Name: ChemistrySelect
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier
  • Keywords: Gold nanoparticles (NPs), Gold nanoworms (NWs), Laser induced shape change, Photothermal therapy, Silica-coated gold nanoparticles
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Silica-coated Au nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted significant attention due to their unique plasmon properties and biocompatibility. This is especially significant for NPs with their plasmon peaks in the near-infrared (NIR) and within the therapeutic window. In this study, we have synthesized worm-shaped Au NPs, called nanoworms (NWs) with an intense surface plasmon absorbance peak in the NIR, which were subsequently coated with silica. These NPs were then exposed to a nanosecond pulsed laser with varying fluences at a wavelength of 1064 nm and their UV–visible (vis) spectra were recorded to analyze the effects. Upon laser exposure, the longitudinal plasmon peaks exhibited a blue shift, which was more pronounced in the unmodified NWs. The silica-coated NWs retained their optical properties even at higher laser fluences. However, for both bare and silica-coated NWs, the required fluences to induce the shape modification were significantly higher than those previously reported for Au nanorods. These experiments highlight that the silica-coated NWs are highly promising for biomedical applications, e.g., for various therapeutic and diagnostic uses, where maintaining performance under higher laser fluences is crucial.