biostudies-literatureUnknownHwang SAssembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) enhances their plasmonic properties, including visible coloration, local electric field generation, hot-carrier production, and photothermal heating. While assembling AuNPs through chemical reactions that create solid, well-defined covalent linkages is highly desirable, achieving such assemblies with high efficiency remains challenging. During surface functionalisation and interparticle reactions, AuNPs are prone to aggregation, which compromises colloidal stability and yield. Such uncontrolled agglomeration can easily be mistaken for successful covalent assembly, because instability-driven clustering-and even nonspecific electrostatic association between oppositely charged particles-can produce structures that resemble the intended covalently bonded Chemical sciencehttps://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12801338biostudies-literatureControlled high-yield assembly of gold nanoparticles <i>via</i> amide bond formation.PMC12801338Kwon SHwang SYoon SLim YfalseControlled high-yield assembly of gold nanoparticles <i>via</i> amide bond formation.Assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) enhances their plasmonic properties, including visible coloration, local electric field generation, hot-carrier production, and photothermal heating. While assembling AuNPs through chemical reactions that create solid, well-defined covalent linkages is highly desirable, achieving such assemblies with high efficiency remains challenging. During surface functionalisation and interparticle reactions, AuNPs are prone to aggregation, which compromises colloidal stability and yield. Such uncontrolled agglomeration can easily be mistaken for successful covalent assembly, because instability-driven clustering-and even nonspecific electrostatic association between oppositely charged particles-can produce structures that resemble the intended covalently bonded 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-10T05:04:21.345Z2026-06-10T03:07:13.191ZS-EPMC128013384154157810.1039/d5sc08787b