Modulatory Functionalization of Gold Nanorods Using Supramolecular Assemblies.

Supramolecular-assembly-mediated functionalization of gold nanorods (GNRs) has been developed by reversible phase transfer between water and oils, which offers a facile method for fabricating robust GNRs with surface-charge tunability. In this regard, trimethylammonium (TMA) GNRs were initially prepared from conventional cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) GNRs by means of a ligand-exchange reaction in the presence of an excess amount of TMA ligands. To further expand their functionality and potential applications, electrostatic assemblies of positively charged TMA-GNRs with negatively charged oleate ions were prepared.