PREPARATION AND FUNCTIONALIZATION OF GOLD NANORODS FOR BIOCONJUGATION APPLICATIONS

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) are of great interest in research because of their unique optical and chemical properties in adjustable aspect ratios, and the ease of surface modification. They are particularly valuable in biosensing, bioimaging, and disease diagnosis and detection.[1] A critical challenge in their application is ensuring stable and efficient bioconjugation while preserving their structural integrity and functionality. Traditional functionalization methods often suffer from aggregation, poor biomolecule attachment, or loss of optical properties. A key challenge in their application is ensuring stable and efficient bioconjugation while maintaining structural integrity and functionality. Conventional functionalization methods often encounter issues such as aggregation, poor biomolecule attachment, and loss of optical properties.[2] This study aims to develop an optimized method for synthesizing and functionalizing AuNRs for further bioconjugation. AnNRs with varying aspect ratios were successfully synthesized through a seed-mediated growth method by adjusting the concentration of silver nitrate and systematically varying AgNO₃ concentrations. Moreover, the synthesis of AuNRs with a high aspect ratio was performed. These nanorods exhibited longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks in the 1000 1200 nm range. The increase in aspect ratio was observed through SEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy, showing a progressive elongation of the nanorods with controlled size distribution. The surface modification methods were applied to get AuNRs composites with MXenes and/or polymers. Fabricated materials were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was used to examine their morphology and size distribution. The findings indicate that optimizing surface functionalization can enhance the use of AuNRs in bioconjugation, making them more used for biomedical applications. This project has received funding from the European Union‘s Horizon Europe Framework Programme under grant agreement No. 101131147.