ABSTRACT: Charged monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles
(AuNPs) have been studied in aqueous solution by
performing atomistic molecular dynamics simulations at
physiological temperature (310 K). Particular attention has
been paid to electrostatic properties that modulate the
formation of a complex comprised of the nanoparticle together
with surrounding ions and water. We focus on Au144
nanoparticles that comprise a nearly spherical Au core
(diameter ∼2 nm), a passivating Au−S interface, and
functionalized alkanethiol chains. Cationic and anionic
AuNPs have been modeled with amine and carboxyl terminal
groups and Cl−/Na+ counterions, respectively. The radial distribution functions show that the side chains and terminal groups
show significant flexibility. The orientation of water is distinct in the first solvation shell, and AuNPs cause a long-range effect in
the solvent structure. The radial electrostatic potential displays a minimum for AuNP− at 1.9 nm from the center of the
nanoparticle, marking a preferable location for Na+, while the AuNP+ potential (affecting the distribution of Cl−) rises almost
monotonically with a local maximum. Comparison to Debye−Hückel theory shows very good agreement for radial ion
distribution, as expected, with a Debye screening length of about 0.2−0.3 nm. Considerations of zeta potential predict that both
anionic and cationic AuNPs avoid coagulation. The results highlight the importance of long-range electrostatic interactions in
determining nanoparticle properties in aqueous solutions. They suggest that electrostatics is one of the central factors in
complexation of AuNPs with other nanomaterials and biological systems, and that effects of electrostatics as water-mediated
interactions are relatively long-ranged, which likely plays a role in, e.g., the interplay between nanoparticles and lipid membranes
that surround cells.