Unlike assembly through biological systems, electrochemically-driven assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is not limited by conditions such as temperature, pH, solvent, and ionic strength. This versatile technique for nanoparticle assembly does, however, require good solubility in aqueous solvents. The aim of this project is to create gold nanoparticles bearing hydroquinone terminal functional groups to form oxime linkages with nanoparticle-bound aminooxy groups. Here, we present research efforts using various synthetic approaches to synthesize an original ethyleneglycol-thiolated hydroquinone target molecule designed to improve solubility in aqueous solvents. Once synthesized, the ethyleneglycol-thiolated electroactive molecules will be used to functionalize the surface of gold nanoparticles and will be further linked to nanoparticle-bound aminooxy groups, thus providing a new triggering method to drive AuNP assembly.

Progress towards the synthesis of a novel ethyleneglycol-thiolated hydroquinone molecule for surface modification of gold nanoparticles

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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