Medium-sized (70 nm × 11.5 nm) and surface-modified AuNRs with PEG and the tumor-targeting ligand lactoferrin (LF) (AuNRs@PEG-LF) exhibited the fastest cellular internalization in HepG2 cells, highest tumor aggregation in vivo, and the optimal in vitro photothermal effect [75]. Here, LTF is linked to neoplasm.