Silver nanocubes 30-50 nm in diameter have been synthesized using a polyol process in which silver nitrate is reduced by ethylene glycol in the presence of a capping agent poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The cubes are single crystals, characterized by a slightly truncated shape bounded by {100}, {110}, and {111} facets. A ligand exchange reaction was used to replace the PVP with another capping agent, allowing the nanocubes to be soluble in chloroform solvent. Oleylamine, oleic acid, and decane-thiol were among the ligands investigated. The silver cubes were then used as sacrificial templates to generate hollow gold nanocages using a galvanic replacement reaction during which the silver cubes were titrated with chloroauric acid. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to monitor these processes. The use of different capping agents allows us to further understand the role of the ligand in the galvanic replacement reaction. The ability to tune the optical properties of these nanostructures to the infrared region promises uses as both contrast agents for optical imaging in early stage tumor detection and as therapeutic agents for photothermal cancer treatment