An embodiment of the invention is directed to a composition comprising a noble metal nanoparticle, wherein the surface of the noble metal nanoparticle is coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) having a size of 0.35 kDa to 5 kDa, and wherein the noble metal nanoparticle is about 2 nm to 10 nm in hydrodynamic diameter. In an embodiment of the invention, a therapeutic agent is also present on or in said nanoparticle.