Objective To synthesize gold nanoclusters（AuNCs）that possess both photothermal and photodynamic therapy ef⁃ fects and investigate their efficacy against skin melanoma in vitro.Methods AuNCs were prepared and characterized using captopril as a ligand.The photothermal effect of AuNCs was evaluated by irradiating them with an 808 nm laser of different concentrations，and the temperature change in the system was recorded.The photodynamic effect of AuNCs was evaluated using the singlet oxygen sensor green （SOSG）probe to detect the generation of singlet oxygen（1O2）.The effect of AuNCs on the cell viability of melanoma cells under laser irradiation was investigated using the cell counting kit-8（CCK-8）method with B16F10 cells as the object.Results The average size of the synthesized AuNCs was（1.6 ± 0.2）nm，and the zeta potential was（-34.8 ± 4.98）mV.Under laser irradiation，the temperature of the AuNCs could rise above 60 °C within 10 min，accompanied by significant 1O2 generation.Without laser irradiation，AuNCs were basically non-cytotoxic to melanoma cells at concentrations of 0 ~ 128 μg/mL.After 10 minutes of 808 nm laser treatment，the cell tem⁃ perature in the AuNCs treatment group could reach above 55 °C，and the cell survival rate decreased to（38.8 ± 2.8）%.Conclusion Captopril-mediated AuNCs possess excellent photothermal and photodynamic anticancer activity on skin melanoma and show potential application value in the treatment of skin melanoma.