The development and optimization of near-infrared-absorbing nanoparticles for use as photothermal cancer therapeutic agents has been ongoing. Nanoparticles (35–55nm) provide higher absorption (98% absorption and 2% scattering for gold nanoshells) as well as potentially better tumor penetration. The ability to ablate tumor cells in vitro and efficacy for photothermal cancer therapy clinically tested, and an in vivo model shows significantly increased long-term, tumor-free survival. This nanoparticles has the potential to improve upon photothermal tumor ablation for cancer therapy.