The layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly method, combined with the seeded growth technique, have been used to deposit gold shells on the surface of hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) spindles. While the LBL method yields dense coatings of preformed An nanoparticles, when AuCl4- ions are further reduced by a mild reducing agent, thicker, rough nanostructured shells can be grown. The deposition process was monitored by TEM and UV-visible spectroscopy, demonstrating a gradual change in the optical features of the colloids as the surface is more densely covered. The particles so-prepared can find useful applications in cancer therapy and as SERS substrates. Additionally, we show that An nanorods can be assembled on hematite spindles, providing a flexible way to tune the optical properties of the resulting composite colloids. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.