Table 1 Characteristics of PEG-modified gold nanorods treated without and with near-infrared pulsed laser light

Particle size of short axis (nm)

10.6 ± 3.2

17.2 ± 3.7

Particle size of long axis (nm)

49.6 ± 9.7

27.0 ± 8.2

Aspect ratio

5.0 ± 1.2

1.7 ± 0.9

Surface area (×10⁻³ nm²)

1.61 ± 0.43

1.42 ± 0.40

Volume (×10⁻³ nm³)

4.02 ± 1.81

4.32 ± 1.70^a

Number of modified PEG on one particle (×10⁻²)

9.50 ± 4.28

8.25 ± 3.25

Area occupied by one PEG molecule (nm²)

1.82 ± 0.29

1.82 ± 0.33^a

Zeta potential (mV)

0.48 ± 1.66

1.83 ± 3.34^a