We have formulated hexagonal-shaped gold nanoplates in a single-step for photothermal therapy that gold ions to gold particles using pyrenyl dextran as reducible stabilizer and template. They exhibit anisotropic structure with broad surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band into near-infrared (NIR) spectrum enabling photothermal therapy. These gold nanoplates are also confirmed biocompatibility and high uptake efficiency due to binding with dextran molecules on the surface of gold nanoplates and cells. From in vitro phtothermal ablation study under NIR laser, gold nanoplates have the potential to use as photothermal agents.