We present a novel approach to quantitatively control liposomal fusion and aggregation, depending upon the surface charge and functionalities, using fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs). We show that ligand-protected ultrasmall AuNCs are excellent fusogenic materials that follow renal clearance pathways after induction of liposomal fusion, especially with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-