A two-step approach for producing “clickable” gold nanoparticles via pulsed laser ablation in liquids

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exhibit unique physicochemical properties, such as high surface-to-volume ratios, quantum size effects, and size-tunable plasmonic resonances, which distinguish them from bulk materials and small molecules. These properties make AuNPs highly versatile in nanotechnology, where their specialized optical, electronic, and catalytic behaviors are harnessed for a variety of applications. In this work, we explore a method for the production of monodisperse, alkyne-functionalized AuNPs through pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL). PLAL is a technique that leverages high-energy photon interactions with matter in the liquid phase, enabling precise control of nanoparticle size and surface characteristics. Alkyne-functionalized AuNPs were produced by a two-step PLAL and characterized via UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and fourier-transform infrared microscopy. Additionally, functionalized nanoparticles were demonstrated to undergo click chemistry, enabling efficient conjugation with azide-functionalized DNA. The work herein demonstrates a versatile and efficient approach for producing alkyne-functionalized nanoparticles which have the potential to undergo chemical reactions and molecular modifications with a variety of azide-containing constituents.