Search results for "nanotechnology"

Solids Go Bio: Inorganic Nanoparticles as Enzyme Mimics

2016

A longstanding goal of biomimetic chemistry is the design and synthesis of functional enzyme mimics. The past three decades have seen a wide variety of materials, including metal complexes, polymers and other biomolecules, that mimic the structures and functions of naturally occurring enzymes. Among these, inorganic nanoparticles offer huge potential, because they are more stable than their natural counterparts, while having large surface areas and sizes comparable to those of natural enzymes. Therefore, a considerable number of “artificial enzymes” derived from inorganic nanomaterials have been reported. This microreview highlights the recent progress in the field of enzymatically active i…

Hydrogen peroxide sensing with horseradish peroxidase-modified polymer single conical nanochannels.

2011

Inspired from the funtioning and responsiveness of biological ion channels, researchers attempt to develop biosensing systems based on polymer and solid-state nanochannels. The applicability of these nanochannels for detection/sensing of any foreign analyte in the surrounding environment depends critically on the surface characteristics of the inner walls. Attaching recognition sites to the channel walls leads to the preparation of sensors targeted at a specific molecule. There are many nanochannel platforms for the detection of DNA and proteins, but only a few are capable of detecting small molecules. Here, we describe a nanochannel platform for the detection of hydrogen peroxide, H(2)O(2)…

<title>All-optical poling of DMABI molecules in a polymer matrix</title>

2005

Many organic compounds in solid state have nonlinear optical properties due to the orientation of the molecules in a polymer matrix. In this work, all-optical poling and second harmonic generation in a composition consisting of 1 mass% of N,N-dimethylaminobenzylidene 1,3-indandione (DMABI) compound in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix were studied. Thin films were prepared by solvent casting. The 1.064-μm fundamental and 532-nm second harmonic wavelengths of a Nd:YAG laser were used. It is shown that DMABI molecules can be oriented by the method of all- optical poling, and that the process is related to the photoinduced switching between two equally stable states of the molecule.

Polymers films with indandione derivatives as alternatives to azobenzene polymers for optical patterning

2008

Surface relief gratings (SRGs) on organic thin films are studied extensively for both scientific interest and in relevance to the applications. Among the chromophores being used the azobenzenes showed the best performance, but the use of alternative photo-sensitive groups provides better general understanding of the phenomena. A thermodynamic theory and molecular dynamics simulations of photoinduced effects are discussed. In this study we use indandione derivatives, known as promising materials for photonics applications, as an alternative to the azobenzenes. We consider their photoreactions when incorporated into a polymer film. One of interesting features is the spectral dependence of the…

ChemInform Abstract: Oxamato-Based Coordination Polymers: Recent Advances in Multifunctional Magnetic Materials

2014

The design and synthesis of novel examples of multifunctional magnetic materials based on the so-called coordination polymers (CPs) have become very attractive for chemists and physicists due to their potential applications in nanoscience and nanotechnology. However, their preparation is still an experimental challenge, which requires a deep knowledge of coordination chemistry and large skills in organic chemistry. The recent advances in this field using a molecular-programmed approach based on rational self-assembly methods which fully exploit the versatility of the coordination chemistry of the barely explored and evergreen family of N-substituted aromatic oligo(oxamato) ligands are prese…

ChemInform Abstract: Preformed Polymers for Langmuir-Blodgett Films - Molecular Concepts

2010

The use of preformed polymers for the preparation of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) multilayers is reviewed. Principles for polymer self-organization are outlined and the appropriate molecular designs are discussed. Recent developments in the different classes of polymers for LB multilayers are presented, and their outstanding properties highlighted.

Inside Cover: A Self-Assembled M8L6 Cubic Cage that Selectively Encapsulates Large Aromatic Guests (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 15/2011)

2011

Microwave synthesis of core-shell structured biocompatible magnetic nanohybrids in aqueous medium

2011

In the past decade, biocompatible magnetic nanohybrids, i.e. materials consisting of an inorganic core encapsulated by a biocompatible polymeric corona, went throw various developments in biomedical applications especially in the fields of diagnosis and therapy. Numerous descriptions of their syntheses can be found in the literature (Zhang et al., 2002; Flesch et al., 2004; Fan et al., 2007; etc). These two-steps protocols often describe the use of organic or aqueous solvents, classical thermal heating, long time reaction as well as fastidious exchange and drying steps. In recent years, microwave heating has been proven to be a very original technology for nanoparticles synthesis due to its…

Hyaluronic Acid-g-Copolymers: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

2013

The aim of this chapter is to review hyaluronic acid (HA) graft copolymers focusing in the description of chemical strategies employed for their synthesis, characterization procedures, and applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical field. Usually biocompatible synthetic polymers and peptides with therapeutic activity are grafted to HA to modify in appropriate way the physicochemical properties of the starting polysaccharide for a specific purpose and at the same time to exploit its biological role, biocompatibility, and targeting ability toward cells with receptors for HA. The use of such HA graft copolymers in the production of nanocarriers or hydrogels for modified drug release and sca…

ChemInform Abstract: Multifunctional Poly(ethylene glycol)s

2011

In the rapidly evolving multidisciplinary field of polymer therapeutics, tailored polymer structures represent the key constituent to explore and harvest the potential of bioactive macromolecular hybrid structures. In light of the recent developments for anticancer drug conjugates, multifunctional polymers are becoming ever more relevant as drug carriers. However, the potentially best suited polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), is unfavorable owing to its limited functionality. Therefore, multifunctional linear copolymers (mf-PEGs) based on ethylene oxide (EO) and appropriate epoxide comonomers are attracting increased attention. Precisely engineered via living anionic polymerization and d…