How can gold-coated nanoshells release drugs when exposed to infrared light?

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Gold and palladium alloy nanoparticles — nanoparticle Image showing nanoparticles of an alloy of gold (yellow) and palladium (blue) on an acid-treated carbon support (gray). These particles were employed as catalysts for the formation of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen (white) and oxygen (red).

Gold-coated nanoshells function as precise drug delivery vehicles by leveraging their ability to absorb specific wavelengths of light. These nanoshells are engineered so that their size allows them to absorb infrared light, which is capable of penetrating several centimeters of human tissue.1

When these shells are exposed to infrared light, they absorb the energy, which generates localized, delicate heating of the capsule. This thermal effect triggers the release of the therapeutic substance contained within the shell. To enhance precision, researchers can attach antibodies to the gold surface, allowing the nanoshells to bind specifically to target sites, such as cancerous tumors, while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.1