Hierarchical Assembly of TiO2 Nanoparticles on WS2 Nanotubes Achieved Through Multifunctional Polymeric Ligands

Thefunctionalization of nanotubes is required in order to bene-fit from their outstanding properties, as any application inmaterials and devices is hindered by processing and manipu-lation difficulties. Only the attachment of appropriate chem-ical functionalities on the nanotube surface allows tailoringof the properties for the respective applications. As an ex-ample, the enhancement of the nanotube solubility is onemajor task since most pristine nanotubes are insoluble inboth water and organic solvents. Thus, the improvement ofthe solubility by chemical functionalization is an importantconcept for synthetic chemists and materials scientists. Tai-loring of the surface chemical bonds might a…

Overcoming the Insolubility of Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoparticles through a High Degree of Sidewall Functionalization Using Polymeric Chelating Ligands

From Single Molecules to Nanoscopically Structured Functional Materials: Au Nanocrystal Growth on TiO2 Nanowires Controlled by Surface-Bound Silicatein

Photocrosslinked Dextran-Based Hydrogels as Carrier System for the Cells and Cytokines Induce Bone Regeneration in Critical Size Defects in Mice

Modified biomaterials have for years been the focus of research into establishing new bone substitutes. In our preceding in vitro study employing different cell cultures, we developed chemically and mechanically characterized hydrogels based on photocrosslinkable dextran derivatives and demonstrated their cytocompatibility and their beneficial effects on the proliferation of osteoblasts and endothelial cells. In the present in vivo study, we investigate photocrosslinked dextran-based hydrogels in critical size defects in mice to evaluate their potential as carrier systems for cells or for a specific angiogenesis enhancing cytokine to induce bone formation. We could demonstrate that, with op…

Fabrication of a Silica Coating on Magnetic γ-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles by an Immobilized Enzyme

Silicatein, a hydrolytic protein encountered in marine sponges, was immobilized on maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles that were surface functionalized with a reactive mulfunctional polymer. This polymer carries an anchor group based on dopamine which is capable of binding to the γ-Fe2O3 surface and a reactive functional group which allows binding of various biomolecules onto inorganic nanoparticles. This functional nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) group allows immobilization of His-tagged silicatein on the surface of the γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The surface-bound protein retains its native hydrolytic activity to catalyze formation of silica through copolymerization of alkoxysilanes Si(OR)4. Functio…

Synthesis of pentafluorophenyl(meth)acrylate polymers: New precursor polymers for the synthesis of multifunctional materials

Pentafluorophenyl acrylate and -methacrylate were polymerized using AIBN as a thermal initiator. The obtained polymers were soluble polymeric active esters that could be used for the preparation of multifunctional polymers. The reactivity of poly(pentafluorophenylacrylate) and poly(pentafluorophenylmethacrylate) towards primary and secondary amines, as well as alcohols was investigated in a quantitative way. Both poly(active esters) reacted satisfactorily with aliphatic primary and secondary amines but only low conversion was found in the case of aromatic amines. Conversions of only 30% were reached when poly(pentafluorophenylacrylate) was treated with one equivalent of alcohol under base c…

From Single Molecules to Nanoscopically Structured Functional Materials

AbstractThe synthesis of MS2 (M = Mo, W) onion-like nanoparticles by means of a high temperature MOCVD process starting from W(CO)6 and elemental sulfur is reported. The reaction can also be carried out in two steps where the intermediate amorphous WS2 nanoparticles formed through the high temperature reaction of tungsten and sulfur in the initial phase of the reaction are isolated and converted in a separate annealing step to onion-type WS2 nanoparticles. Based on a study of the temperature dependence of the reaction a set of conditions could be derived where onion-like structures were formed in a one-step reaction. Onion-like structures obtained in the single-step process were filled, whe…

Reactive Polymers: A Versatile Toolbox for the Immobilization of Functional Molecules on TiO2 Nanoparticles

RAFT Polymerization of Pentafluorophenyl Methacrylate: Preparation of Reactive Linear Diblock Copolymers

Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate (PFMA) was carried out in the presence of cumyldithiobenzoate and 4-cyano-4-((thiobenzoyl)sulfanyl)pentanoic acid, respectively. These chain transfer agents with 2,2'-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator yielded the active ester polymer poly(PFMA) with M n up to 17000 g . mol -1 and low polydispersity index (M w /M n <1.2). Kinetic analysis using 19 F NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements showed controlled polymerization behavior for both chain transfer agents. Successful preparation of linear diblock copolymers consisting of an active ester block and m…

Double-stranded RNA polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid immobilized onto gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles by using a multifunctional polymeric linker.