Gold nanoparticles were prepared using peptide-biphenyl hybrids (PBHs) as capping agents. AuNPs were characterized by different techniques including UV-Vis, TEM, EDX, FT-IR, elemental analysis, (1)H NMR and (13)C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy. TEM analysis showed that AuNPs present diameters in the range of 1.8-3.7 nm, depending on the structure and the amount of the capping PBH used. FT-IR spectroscopy and solid-state (13)C NMR revealed that the carboxylic group of PBHs, especially in the case of the acid ligands, interacts with the gold surface (in the form of carboxylate). The results confirm that PBHs are excellent stabilizers of AuNPs, being one of the first examples on the use of peptidomimetics-gold hybrid materials. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.