Noble metal nanoparticles with anisotropy in shape or surface functionality hold great promise in biomedical applications. This chapter gives an introductory overview of nanoparticle interaction with biological matter, in particular related to the protein corona and cell membrane. The effect of anisotropy in nanoparticle shape and chemical functionality on the resulting material properties is then discussed in detail both from a computational viewpoint and an experimental viewpoint. While the focus lies on elucidating the role of anisotropy on the interaction between nanoparticles and biological systems, various applications are outlined and put in context.
