Size-controlled peptide-directed synthesis of hollow spherical gold nanoparticle superstructures.

Abstract

Choose your favorite size: Peptide conjugates, BP–Ax–PEPAu, direct the synthesis and assembly of gold nanoparticles into well-defined hollow spherical gold nanoparticle superstructures. The diameter of the superstructures can be dialed-in by choosing the proper number of alanine residues, x: x = 2 leads to superstructures with diameters larger than 100 nm while x = 3 leads to superstructures with sub-50-nm diameters.