Owing to their unique chemical and physical properties, colloidal gold nanoparticles have
prompted a wide variety of biocompatible nano-agents for cancer imaging, diagnosis and
treatment. In this context, biofunctionalized gold nanorods (AuNRs) are promising candidates
for light-induced hyperthermia, to cause local and selective damage in malignant tissue. Yet, the
efficacy of AuNR-based hyperthermia is highly dependent on several experimental parameters;
in particular, the AuNR morphology strongly affects both physical and biological involved
processes. In the present work, we systematically study the influence of different structural
parameters like the AuNR aspect ratio, length and molecular weight on in vitro cytotoxicity,
cellular uptake and heat generation efficiency. Our results enable us to identify the optimum
AuNR morphology to be used for in vivo hyperthermia treatment.Postprint (author's final draft