Gold Nanospheres are used in diagnostics applications. Their utility has been found in Lateral Flow Assays because it is easy to attach antibodies and other reporter molecules to them.
Gold Nanorods are nanoparticles that are elongated along one direction. The tunable optical resonance in the NIR region makes gold nanorods particularly attractive for in vivo applications as optical contrast agents, photothermal therapeutic agents, and drug delivery carriers.
Gold Nanowires absorb well into the medium and long wavelength IR. They are also commonly used for conducting traces.
