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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis
Published on: July 10, 2021
Ultrarapid Cationization of Gold Nanoparticles via a Single-Step Ligand Exchange Reaction
Yohei Ishida1, Jun Suzuki1, Ikumi Akita1
1Division of Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , Hokkaido University , Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku , Sapporo , Hokkaido 060-8628 , Japan.
Abstract:
We propose a novel method for the ultrarapid cationization of gold nanoparticles with diameters ranging from several to a hundred nanometers via a single-step ligand exchange reaction of citrate-protected anionic gold nanoparticles with cationic thiol ligand. This reaction was performed only in an aqueous medium via a single step from citrate to cationic thiol and therefore enables a rapid preparation of cationic Au nanoparticles without a contamination of organic solvent or lipid-soluble molecules. The cationization was successfully completed within 20 min without changes in the core diameter and optical characteristic.
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