Nanoparticle therapies can depend not only on which ligands are present, but on how they are arranged and connected within a nanoarchitecture. This project builds a foundation for site- and density-controlled functionalization by comparing gold nanoparticle (AuNP) films with and without added crosslinkers. Close-packed, dodecanethiol-capped AuNP films are assembled at the air–water interface in a Langmuir trough to form an uncrosslinked baseline. Dithiol crosslinkers are then introduced in parallel samples to create interparticle binding and increase structural integrity. Mechanical stability is quantified using Langmuir compression isotherms, including minimum collapse pressure and qualitative collapse behavior. Preliminary comparisons suggest that crosslinked films resist collapse more effectively than uncrosslinked controls, establishing a more durable platform for future experiments. Ongoing work will use this platform to examine how localized (clustered) versus more uniform ligand presentation may influence functional performance, supporting modular, bifunctional nanoparticle designs relevant to nanomedicine.
