title: Directed self-assembly of gold-tipped CdSe nanorods.
abstract: Gold-tipped CdSe rods (nanodumbbells) were solubilized in an aqueous phase and self-assembled in a head-to-tail manner using biotin disulfide and avidin. The disulfide end of the biotin molecule attaches to the gold tip of the nanodumbbell, and the biotin end of the molecule is able to conjugate to an avidin protein. The avidin can strongly conjugate up to four biotin molecules. Changing the ratios of biotin to nanodumbbells leads to the formation of dimers, trimers, and flowerlike structures. To further improve the distribution of chain lengths, a separation method based upon weight was applied using a concentration gradient. The gold tips provide effective anchor points for constructing complex nanorod structures by self-assembly.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Asaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salant
authors.forename: Ella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amitay-Sadovsky
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Banin