TEM images of cells labelled with GNRs coated with a 35 nm silica shell.
The increase in thickness of the silica shell was reflected in the distance between GNR cores in the endosomes.
With GNRs-Si15, although no sintering was observed, the particles were packed in very close proximity to each other within the vesicles; with GNR-Si23, packing density was reduced; GNRs-Si35 remained spaced apart without any signs of closely packed gold cores.