This invention relates to the targeting of specific tissue for destruction or modification using electromagnetic radiation coupled with nanoparticles to locally apply heat to the targeted tissue by concentrating the energy in a temporary or permanently placed medium. In general, this invention addresses the need to ablate, i.e., to reduce, eliminate, or to impede growth in specific tissue and, to do so in a highly targeted and completely controllable implementation. Specific examples are described, focusing on, but not limited to, the retardation, reduction, and/or elimination of obstructing material and tissue in vascular stents and gastro-esophageal valves. For illustrative purposes, other examples are mentioned. Ablation is induced by the nano-plasmonic effect in metallic-based nanoparticles including, but not limited to, gold and gold coated nanoparticles a wide variety of alternate materials are equally suitable.
