Articles - Nano Progress

Abstract

In the last few years of research, it has been observed that noble metal nanoparticles due to their outstanding optical properties exhibit exotic applications in the field of nanoscience. Scientists perceive that plasmonic nanoparticles can be used as nanoheaters and opens a new path in the area of nanoscale research. The plasmonic nanoparticles function as nanoheaters which can be remotely controlled by light leading to the development of an emerging branch known as thermoplasmonics. Heat generation induced by light absorption is considered as a big advantage to realize different plasmonic applications. The photothermal effect induced by plasmonic nanoparticles of different nano geometry, which act as nano sources of heat are described in the present paper. Along with optical properties of plasmonic nanoparticles as a major point of interest, heat generation induced due to light absorption by nanoparticles is also considered a valuable resource in various plasmonic applications e.g. photothermal treatment, thermoelectric power generation etc. and this consequence of plasmonic nanoparticles put up the basis for the exciting field of thermoplasmonics. In this review, basic understanding and some simulation techniques for measuring the heat unleashed by plasmonic nanoparticles at the nanoscale order is summarized along with the recent advances in the application of thermoplasmonics specially to biomedical applications using photothermal effect, particularly for photothermal cancer therapy, drug and gene delivery, photothermal imaging, and nano-surgery.