Towards the design of self-sorting nanomaterials through kinetically directed chemoselective control over interfacial surface chemistry.

A gold nanoparticle platform is described in which post-synthesis surface modifications can be conducted using kinetically-tunable strain-promoted cycloaddition chemistry, which is dependent on the electronic properties of the complementary dipolar species. This permits chemoselective reactivity with one reactive dipole over another less reactive dipole, providing exciting opportinities for kinetically-directed self-sorting strategies.

Insights on the Application of the Retro Michael-Type Addition on Maleimide-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles in Biology and Nanomedicine.

The glutathione-mediated retro Michael-type addition reaction is demonstrated to take place at the interface of small water-soluble maleimide-functionalized gold nanoparticles (Maleimide-AuNP). The retro Michael-type addition reaction can be blocked by hydrolyzing the Michael addition thioether adduct at the nanoparticle's interface under reaction conditions that do not cause AuNP decomposition. This procedure "locks" the molecule of interest onto the Maleimide-AuNP template for potential uses in medical imaging and bioconjugation, ensuring no loss of the molecular cargo from the nanocarrier.