Reactions imply a molecular change. And that is true, gold doesn't like to react with much. It does like tickling sulfur, but has a hard time doing much else.

Instead, it makes alloys, amalgams, and bonds, which don't include a chemical reaction.

In this case, gold nanorods interface and act as a catalyst for the oxidation of adrenaline and the gold is restructured due to the reactions taking place around it.