Given the wide range of methods available to further modify these nanoparticles, in ongoing work we are also exploring the use of cell-specific internalizing aptamers (i.e. anti-EGFR aptamers or anti-EpCAM aptamers) grafted PEG-GNPs that can more effectively be taken up by cancer cells overexpressing a cognate receptor, and the dual delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and GNPs to achieve a synergistic therapeutic outcome in vivo. Here, EGFR is linked to cancer.