Definition: Ag and Au nanoparticles and nanorods can induce heating when illuminated at optimal wavelength, corresponding to the plasmon resonance condition, in a process called plasmonic photothermal treatment. The proposed underlying mechanism is plasmon-enhanced shockwave generation, which alters virus membrane and/or surface groups and, therefore, reduces virus binding and fusion with the host cell.

Plasmonic nanoparticles for photothermal inactivation of the virus include but are not limited to the following:

• Ag nanoparticles

• Au nanoparticles