University of Kashan Journal of Nanostructures 2251-7871 9 4 2019 10 01 Engineering Nano-aggregates: β-Cyclodextrin Facilitates the Thiol-Gold Nanoparticle Self-Assembly 751 760 99380 10.22052/JNS.2019.04.016 EN D Badmapriya Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India Sameena Yousuf Department of Chemistry, Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore 641062, Tamil Nadu, India Department of Chemistry, 4Nanotoxicology Research Lab, Department of Nanoscience, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore 641114, Tamil Nadu, India Israel Enoch Department of Chemistry, 4Nanotoxicology Research Lab, Department of Nanoscience, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore 641114, Tamil Nadu, India Journal Article 2019 01 16 The structure and morphology of nonmaterial formed by colloidal synthesis represent a subject of interest as it is a factor deciding the physicochemical properties and biological applications of nanostructures. Among various nanoparticles, gold can develop fractal assembled patterns. Herein, we report a nano-aggregate of a thiol-on-gold self-assembled structure and the influence of β-cyclodextrin on the self-assembly. The host: guest association of the 5-(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol is studied using UV-visible, fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular modelling analysis. In free form unbound to gold nanoparticles, the thiol compound forms a cyclodextrin complex with a 1: 1 stoichiometry. The thiol assembled on gold nanoparticles, aggregating to constitute irregular patterns. β-cyclodextrin encapsulates the thiol-on-gold nanoparticles and their morphology changes. The influence of β-cyclodextrin on the aggregation of the thiol guest molecule and the morphology of the thiol-on-gold nanostructure is discussed. The non-covalent complex made up by the thiol molecule with cyclodextrin plays a vital role in tuning the structure of the nanostructure when assembled on gold nanoparticles.The study will open up a significant method in the approach towards site specific drug delivery via a physical encapsulation. https://jns.kashanu.ac.ir/article_99380_7850cba96eb8e33563a0b3228292dbda.pdf