A major research breakthrough has been achieved by Dr. Muhammad Haroon, a postdoctoral researcher in our group, with the publication of his latest article in the prestigious journal 《Advanced Optical Materials》. The study, titled “Chiral Gold Nanopropellers: Engineering Plasmonic Chirality for Enantioselective Recognition Through Stereoselective Binding”, introduces a novel dual-mode platform that expertly merges the intrinsic chirality of gold nanostructures with targeted molecular recognition.

Enantiomers—molecules that are mirror images of each other—play a critical role in fields like pharmacology, yet they are notoriously difficult to distinguish using conventional methods due to their identical physical and chemical properties. Dr. Haroon’s work addresses this long-standing challenge by engineering precisely shaped “gold nanopropellers”. These nanostructures are designed to interact differently with left- and right-handed molecules, enabling highly sensitive and selective discrimination.

The research combines sophisticated nanofabrication, advanced optical experiments, and computational simulations to demonstrate that these chiral nanopropellers can detect enantiomers with remarkable accuracy. This is achieved through stereoselective binding, where the propellers’ unique plasmonic chirality enhances interactions with specific molecular mirror forms.

“This innovative approach opens new pathways toward smarter diagnostics, safer pharmaceuticals, and next-generation sensing technologies,” said Dr. Haroon. “By leveraging the geometric and optical properties of gold at the nanoscale, we can achieve a level of precision that was previously difficult to attain.”

The implications of this research are profound. It could lead to improved drug development processes—where the wrong enantiomer can cause harmful side effects—as well as advanced sensors for chemical and biological detection. The platform’s dual-mode functionality offers both flexibility and enhanced reliability, making it a powerful tool for both research and industry.

This work not only highlights the growing potential of plasmonic chirality in nanophotonics but also reinforces our group’s leading role in innovating at the intersection of materials science and optical engineering.

🔬 Read the full open-access article here:  

https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adom.202501589