To　develop　a　novel　type　of　nanoparticle　for　cancer　therapy,　gold　nanorods　(GNRs)　are　coated　with　chitosan　(CS)　derivatives　to　combine　chemical　and　photothermal　effects.　Thiol-modified　chitosan　derivatives　chemically　conjugated　to　doxorubicin　(DOX)　are　successfully　synthesized　and　their　in　vitro　effect　is　evaluated.　Functional　nanocarriers　(DOX-CS-GNR)　with　good　biocompatibility　and　optical　properties　are　prepared　by　conjugating　chitosan　derivatives　to　GNRs.　Two　types　of　structures　with　different　molar　ratios　of　chitosan　derivatives　and　GNRs　are　successfully　obtained.　In　in　vitro　studies,　GNR-loaded　nanoparticles　show　low　cytotoxicity　and　high　potential　for　anti-cancer　effects.　Under　conditions　of　short　exposure　time　and　low　light　intensity,　DOX-CS-GNR　nanocarriers　with　a　side-by-side　structure　exhibit　cytoxicity　against　tumor　cells　based　on　a　combination　of　chemical　and　photothermal　therapeutic　effects.　A　novel　type　of　nanocarrier　is　prepared　from　chitosan　derivatives　and　gold　nanorods.　The　nanocarriers　exhibit　high　stability　and　may　be　useful　for　cancer　therapy　combining　chemical　and　photothermal　effects.　©　2014　WILEY-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim.