You can use a layer-by-layer approach. First you coat the rods with polystyrene sulfonate and subsequently with e.g. PAH or another cationic polyelectrolyte.

Some more information can be found in our paper in Small: Article Nanorod-Coated PNIPAM Microgels: Thermoresponsive Optical Properties

you can modify CTAB firstly with vinyl monomer then use it in the polymerization reaction

I agree with Prof. Hellweg. Layer-by-layer apprach will work.

Thank you all for your answers 😊