Although gold is the subject of one of the most ancient themes of investigation in science, its renaissance now leads to an exponentially increasing number of publications, especially in the context of emerging nanoscience and nanotechnology with nanoparticles and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). We will limit the present review to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), also called gold colloids. AuNPs are the most stable metal nanoparticles, and they present fascinating aspects such as their assembly of multiple types involving materials science, the behavior of the individual particles, size-related electronic, magnetic and optical properties (quantum size effect), and their applications to catalysis and biology. Their promises are in these fields as well as in the bottom-up approach of nanotechnology, and they will be key materials and building block in the 21st century. Whereas the extraction of gold started in the 5th millennium B.C. near Varna (Bulgaria) and reached 10 tons per year in Egypt around 1200-1300 B.C. when the marvelous statue of Touthankamon was constructed, it is probable that “soluble” gold appeared around the 5th or 4th century B.C. in Egypt and China. In antiquity, materials were used in an ecological sense for both aesthetic and curative purposes. Colloidal gold was used to make ruby glass 293 Chem. Rev. 2004, 104, 293−346

Gold nanoparticles: assembly, supramolecular chemistry, quantum-size-related properties, and applications toward biology, catalysis, and nanotechnology.

Polydopamine and Its Derivative Materials: Synthesis and Promising Applications in Energy, Environmental, and Biomedical Fields

Approaches, Derivatives and Applications Vasilios Georgakilas,† Michal Otyepka,‡ Athanasios B. Bourlinos,‡ Vimlesh Chandra, Namdong Kim, K. Christian Kemp, Pavel Hobza,‡,§,⊥ Radek Zboril,*,‡ and Kwang S. Kim* †Institute of Materials Science, NCSR “Demokritos”, Ag. Paraskevi Attikis, 15310 Athens, Greece ‡Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic Center for Superfunctional Materials, Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology, San 31, Hyojadong, Namgu, Pohang 790-784, Korea Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo naḿ. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic

Functionalization of Graphene: Covalent and Non-Covalent Approaches, Derivatives and Applications

Graphene has attracted tremendous research interest in recent years, owing to its exceptional properties. The scaled-up and reliable production of graphene derivatives, such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), offers a wide range of possibilities to synthesize graphene-based functional materials for various applications. This critical review presents and discusses the current development of graphene-based composites. After introduction of the synthesis methods for graphene and its derivatives as well as their properties, we focus on the description of various methods to synthesize graphene-based composites, especially those with functional polymers and inorganic nanostructures. Particular emphasis is placed on strategies for the optimization of composite properties. Lastly, the advantages of graphene-based composites in applications such as the Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, photovoltaic devices, photocatalysis, as well as Raman enhancement are described (279 references).

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Graphene-based composites

We review the present state of polymer nanocomposites research in which the fillers are single-wall or multiwall carbon nanotubes. By way of background we provide a brief synopsis about carbon nanotube materials and their suspensions. We summarize and critique various nanotube/polymer composite fabrication methods including solution mixing, melt mixing, and in situ polymerization with a particular emphasis on evaluating the dispersion state of the nanotubes. We discuss mechanical, electrical, rheological, thermal, and flammability properties separately and how these physical properties depend on the size, aspect ratio, loading, dispersion state, and alignment of nanotubes within polymer nanocomposites. Finally, we summarize the current challenges to and opportunities for efficiently translating the extraordinary properties of carbon nanotubes to polymer matrices in hopes of facilitating progress in this emerging area.

Polymer Nanocomposites Containing Carbon Nanotubes

Tailoring Soft Nanoparticles for Potential Application as Drug Carriers in Bladder Cancer Chemotherapy

Biomimetic Anchors for Antifouling and Antibacterial Polymeric Coatings

XPS studies of some chemically-synthesized polypyridazine-acceptor complexes

Tumor-targeting albumin nanoparticles as an efficacious drug delivery system and potential diagnostic tool in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer therapy.

The aqueous solution properties of an ampholytic naphthalene-labelled acrylamide/N,N-dimethyl maleimido propyl ammonium propane sulphonate copolymer, poly(ADMMAPS)/NA, are examined in this study by measuring reduced and intrinsic viscosities. The intrinsic viscosity of the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA is related to the type and concentration of the salt added. This behaviour, resulting from the associations of the polymer chains, is in contrast with cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes. Smaller anions, such as F-, with a common cation (K+) are found to be the most difficult to be bound to the sulphonate group, indicating that a lower intrinsic viscosity of the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA would be found in aqueous KF solution. Smaller cations, such as Li+, with a common anion (Cl-) are found to be the most difficult to be bound to the quaternary ammonium group, indicating that a lower intrinsic viscosity of the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA would be found in LiCl salt aqueous solution. Because a naphthalene label was introduced into the polymer, the behaviour of the solution properties of the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA could be clearly defined in term of macroscopic and microscopic analysis. The models proposed in this study can account for the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA solution viscosities. © 1998 SCI.

En-Tang Kang

Papers

Tailoring Soft Nanoparticles for Potential Application as Drug Carriers in Bladder Cancer Chemotherapy

Biomimetic Anchors for Antifouling and Antibacterial Polymeric Coatings

XPS studies of some chemically-synthesized polypyridazine-acceptor complexes

Tumor-targeting albumin nanoparticles as an efficacious drug delivery system and potential diagnostic tool in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer therapy.

Dilute solution properties of naphthalene-labelled acrylamide/N,N-dimethyl maleimido propyl ammonium propane sulphonate copolymer