Enzymatic tailoring for precise control of plasmonic resonance absorbance of gold nanoparticle assemblies

We report an enzymatic method to control the plasmon resonance absorbance of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) arrays assembled on hyaluronic acids. While multiple electrostatic interactions between cysteamine on the AuNPs and the carboxylic acid residues in the whole intact hyaluronic acid induced the formation of large aggregates, precise control of the plasmon absorbance was possible by tailoring the size of the bio-polymeric templates with hyaluronidase, almost over the entire range of the resonant coupling wavelengths. It was possible to precisely tune the position of the second plasmon absorbance by manipulating the amount of the template and the enzymatic hydrolysis time. Finally, we were able to produce a chain-like array of AuNPs, which was nearly one dimensional, with a maximum shift of up to 189 nm in the plasmon absorbance at the optimal hydrolysis time of the templates. This enzymatic method can be used as a useful tool to tailor the plasmonic properties of the nanostructures required for specific applications. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.