Structures on the nanoscale have become increasingly prevalent in optoelectronics research in recent years. In particular low dimensional metallic structures have generated interest due to their unique plasmonic properties. We report the synthesis of gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution and the subsequent arrangement of these particles into nanowires-type structures using the dipole-dipole attractive properties of the particles. These nanowire-type structures have differing surface plasmonic properties in comparison to the 0-dimensional nanoparticles due to the 1-dimensional propagation of the plasmon signals. A number of methods were examined for the dipole-dipole interactions to be initiated. Under low pH conditions (∼pH 3) the stabilisers become detached causing a reversible aggregation of the nanoparticles. Through careful tuning of the solution pH it was examined as to whether only partial removal of the stabilisers was possible with a view to inducing linear aggregation. A second method examined was the removal of the nanoparticles from the aqueous solution and their subsequent dispersal in ethanol. The polar nature of water is seen to interfere with the dipole-dipole interaction once the stabilisers have been removed. Using a less polar solvent was examined, again with regards to initiating nanowire growth. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2009.327]