Instead, these findings support that the interaction between PVP and the gold surface plays a fundamental role in the process. Specifically, polyvinylpyrrolidone is known to bond with noble metal surfaces through the carbonyl group of its pyrrolidone units . These interactions could functionalize the NP, either competing with CTA + or displacing it from the surface. As a result, the inhibition of the assembly in this case highlights the role of surface adsorption by PVP, rather than polymer-induced depletion attraction, as the primary factor governing the assembly process dynamics.