A silica-gold core-shell structure to mimic the large size of gold particles for promoting cell growth: A comparative study of the silica core size and the nanogold amount in the shell

- We prepare SiO2@AuNPs core-shell materials by seed-mediated method.
- SiO2@AuNPs can promote the growth of HeLa cells, while 4 nm AuNPs lead to cell death.
- The silica substrates hold their attached AuNPs outside the cells.
- The concavo-convex surface of SiO2@AuNPs is facilitated to cell adhesion, probably resulting in the proliferation of HeLa cells.