Core–Shell Plasmonic Nanocomposites with Synergistic Photothermal and Photochemical Activity for Biomedical Applications

Nanomedicine changes our lives by impacting diagnostics and therapeutics. In the biomedical domain, core-shell nanostructures have significant potential for photothermal therapy, diagnostics, sensing, drug delivery, and imaging. This work reviews the synergistic photothermal and photochemical effects of core-shell nanocomposites in the biomedical field. Several historical points in the development of nanostructures and fundamental core-shell plasmonic nanocomposites are provided in the introductory sections. Further, we analyzed the core-shell construction and its main biomedical applications: antimicrobial, cancer therapy, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. Moreover, we present relevant design considerations, performance optimization, and toxicity studies focused on synergistic photothermal-photochemical effects. Despite the promising biomedical research, several challenges remain before core-shell nanocomposites are widely translated into clinical settings and highlight the potential from technological and legal perspectives. The review concludes by outlining the pathways by which the synergistic photothermal-photochemical response of the core-shell nanocomposites plays a key role in nanomedicine and personalized medicine.