Current Nanoscience - Volume 2, Issue 4, 2006

Biological protein-based entities that form nanostructures ranging from 8 to 50 nm in size represent promising candidates in the development of novel immunotherapeutics against cancer and microbial pathogens. These recombinant nanoparticles usually consist of major coat or core proteins derived from viruses like for instance papillomavirus, polyomavirus, parvovirus or hepatitis B virus that spontaneously assemble into the Read More

In search of a high resolution sensing platform with the capability of wireless operation, we identified surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices as the most promising technology. In this review we discussed the working principles of SAW devices, their applications in sensing as well as the integration of nanostructures with SAW devices for achieving enhanced sensitivity. Future research challenges and benefits of nanostructured surfa Read More

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess high electrical conductivity, high chemical stability, and extremely high mechanical strength and modulus. These special properties of both single-walled and multi-walled CNTs (SWNTs and MWNTs, respectively) have attracted much attention in electrochemistry. Functionalization of CNTs is one of the most active fields in carbon nanotube research, which provides an effective tool to broaden the sp Read More

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has developed into a powerful tool in biophysics to assess the structure and measure the inter- and intramolecular forces of biological objects. At the cutting-edge, imaging and force measurements are performed on individual membrane proteins. Here, recent achievements of high-resolution imaging and imaging in combination with controlled force measurement using AFM are reviewed. High- Read More

High Resolution Interference Microscopy (HRIM) is a technique that allows the characterization of amplitude and phase of electromagnetic wave-fields in the far-field with a spatial accuracy that corresponds to a few nanometers in the object plane. Emphasis is put on the precise determination of topological features in the wave-field, called phase singularities or vortices, which are spatial points within the electromagnetic wave Read More

Exfoliated nano-clay/epoxy composites typically contain approximately 1 nm thick layers of clay dispersed in the polymer matrix. Owing to the platy morphology of the silicate layers, exfoliated clay nanocomposites can exhibit dramatically improved barrier and mechanical properties that are not available with conventional composite materials. Since epoxy applications may exist in areas of high moisture content and under mecha Read More

Silver nanocolloids (SNC) are materials useful for wide application in chemistry and biology which are usually prepared by chemical reduction of a silver salt. Monodisperse SNC sols are relatively difficult to prepare compared to gold nanocolloids and few data are available on the optimization of the synthetic conditions as well as on the possible evolution of the nanocolloids after synthesis. To document this, we have carried out a Read More

The development of polymeric dental composites has revolutionized the field of dentistry over the past 30 years. This development has been achieved mainly through organic monomer discovery, modifications in formulation and filler technology, advances in light curing equipment and efficient photoinitiators. Despite these developmental advances, dental composites are still limited by problems such as polymerization s Read More