New Route for Functionalization of Gold Nanorods

New Route for Functionalization of Gold Nanorods

Author: ChemPlusChem

Gold nanorods (GNRs) have proven useful for imaging and biological sensing processes. Normally, GNRs are prepared using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) but this surfactant bilayer limits subsequent easy functionalization of the nanorods.

A conceptually new method to functionalize GNRs has been reported by Tae Jung Park, Chung-Ang University, Korea, and co-workers; the figure outlines their approach.

Functionalization of Gold Nanorods for Biomolecular Sensing

The reserachers partially replaced the CTAB bilayer on the GNR surface with an engineered protein – a gold-binding polypeptide that was fused with Staphylococcal protein A; GBP-SpA. Traditionally, GNR functionalization is challenging because nanorods have a high tendency to aggregate. However, aggregation is avoided here by pre-incubating GNRs with activated carbon to remove the free CTAB molecules. These nanorods have been further functionalized through complexation with an antibody and the resulting hybrid used for protein detection by exploiting the change of the surface plasmon of the GNRs.


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