No abstract

Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), which is necessary for the preparation of gold nanorods (NRs), was extracted from a NR solution into a chloroform phase containing phosphatidylcholine (PC). After three extractions, the zeta potential of the NRs remained positive, but its magnitude decreased from +67 +/- 1 to +15 +/- 1 mV. Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis indicated that the NRs were passivated with PC. The PC layer on the NR surface contributed to the prevention of NR aggregation. The PC-passivated NRs showed low cytotoxicity in comparison with twice-centrifuged NRs. It was shown that a negligible amount of CTAB was dispersed in the NR solution after the extraction. The extraction using a chloroform phase containing PC was found to be a convenient way of replacing the CTAB with alternative capping agents such as PC. This is a key technique for preparing functional NRs that can have practical applications.

Anisotropic and controllable silver shell formation on gold nanorods was realized in a micellar solution of hexadecytrimethylammonium chloride. Uniformity of the anisotropic Au-Ag core-shell particles contributes separation of four extinction bands. The ability to manipulate the shapes and sizes of these nanoparticles offers a wide-range control of the surface extinction from the visible to the near infrared regions (450-800 nm).

Gold nanorods can be used as photothermal converters, permitting near-infrared (NIR) light to be transmitted deep into tissues without causing damage. We prepared hybrid nanorods with a core-shell structure, i.e., a single gold nanorod encapsulated in a poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) nanogel. Hybrid nanorods demonstrated remote, reversible, pulsatile phase transition and in vivo action after irradiation using a NIR laser.