Water-soluble gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are rapidly synthesized by a gas-liquid interfacial discharge plasma in association with DNA. The synthesis is free from the elaborate reaction requirements usually in conventional methods, e. g., the temperature control, continuous stirring, and ultraclean glassware for the reaction solution. Moreover, the size and morphology of AuNPs are simply tuned by varying the concentration and type of DNA which acts as a stabilizer through conjugating on AuNPs. The DNA conjugation prevents the AuNPs from a further coalescence, resulting in the formation of small-sized AuNPs. Furthermore, the assembly of the AuNPs is enhanced when DNA concentration is high. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.