Gold　nanorods　(AuNRs)　have　attracted　tremendous　interest　in　biomedical　fields　due　to　their　unique　optical　properties,　tunable　surface　plasmon,　and　excellent　biocompatibility.　Their　biomedical　applications　are　mainly　influenced　by　near-infrared　(NIR)　light,　which　can　guarantee　deep　penetration　into　human　tissues　with　minimal　loss.　However,　traditional　single　AuNRs　are　unable　to　carry　medicine　into　the　lesion　regions.　Furthermore,　it　is　difficult　for　AuNR　nanoparticles　to　be　implemented　in　multimodal　imaging-guided　synergetic　therapy,　which　has　limited　the　application　of　AuNRs　in　the　field　of　theranostics.　In　recent　years,　researchers　have　made　great　strides　in　modifying　gold　nanorods　into　nanomaterials　for　the　integration　of　diagnosis　and　treatment.　After　modifying　different　functionalized　shells　on　the　outsides　of　AuNRs,　heterostructure　AuNRs　known　as　anisotropic　gold　nanorod　(AAuNR)　nanoparticles　possessed　bioimaging　and　cancer　therapy　abilities,　as　well　as　a　variety　of　other　amazing　biomedical　applications.　In　addition,　AAuNR　nanoparticles　can　combine　biomedical　imaging　and　therapy　into　one　system　to　achieve　multimodal　bioimaging　guided　synergetic　therapy.　In　this　study,　we　presented　a　current　review　of　the　latest　progress　of　different　types　of　AAuNRs　nanoparticles　and　their　biomedical　applications.　Furthermore,　the　challenges　and　future　development　trends　of　AAuNR　nanoparticles　in　the　biomedical　fields　are　discussed.　[Figure　not　available:　see　fulltext.].　©　2022,　Tsinghua　University　Press.