Supported Preyssler Nanoparticles in Synthesis of 1,3‐Diaryl‐5‐Spirohexahydropyrimidines

Silica‐supported Preyssler nanoparticles (H₁₄[NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀])/SiO₂ are used as a new and recyclable catalyst for the preparation of 1,3‐diaryl‐5‐spirohexahydropyrimidines via a one‐pot condensation of anilines, formaldehyde, and cyclohexanone.     

Synthesis of Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles in Non‐Aqueous Emulsions

Summary: A novel non‐aqueous emulsion system, consisting of cyclohexane as the continuous and acetonitrile as the dispersed phase, is described. Stabilization of the system can be achieved by using polyisoprene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymers as emulsifiers. The suitability of this system for performing water‐sensitive, catalytic, and oxidative polymerizations and polycondensations is demonstrated by the synthesis of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(thiophene‐3‐yl‐acetic acid), and polyacetylene. In all cases spherical nanoparticles with diameters as small as 23 nm can be obtained.

     

Self‐Assembled PAA‐Based Nanoparticles as Potential Gene and Protein Delivery Systems

A series of nanoparticles is prepared via layer‐by‐layer assembly of oppositely charged, synthetic biocompatible polyamidoamine polymers as potential carriers. Particle size, surface charge and internal chain mobility are quantified as a function of the polymer type and number of layers. The effect of addition of surfactant is examined to simulate the effects of nanoparticle dissolution. The cyctotoxicity of these particles (in epithelia and murine cell lines) are orders of magnitude lower than polyethyleneimine controls. Stable nanoparticles may be prepared from mixtures of strongly, oppositely charged polymers, but less successfully from weakly charged polymers, and, given their acceptable toxicity characteristics, such modularly designed constructs show promise for drug and gene delivery.

     

Novel Water‐Soluble Shape‐Regulatable Luminescent Nanoparticles by Non‐Covalently Bonded Self‐Assembly

Summary: Novel non‐covalently connected water‐soluble nanoparticles that contain poly(fluorene‐co‐phenylene) with hydroxy‐capped alkoxy side chains (PF3BOH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) have been obtained and characterized. With different proportions of PF3BOH and PAA, the shape and size of the nanoparticles can be regulated. The nanoparticles are quite stable in water with no precipitate being observed after weeks. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic laser light scattering are used to confirm the morphology of the PF3BOH/PAA nanoparticles. Their optical properties have been investigated and show similar optoelectronic properties to a PF3BOH solid film although they do not undergo aggregation.

TEM images of the nanoparticles obtained upon varying the PAA/PF3BOH content.     

Thermodynamic‐Dependent Size‐Selection of ZnSe Nanoparticles in Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymer Systems

ZnSe colloidal nanoparticles prepared by the air‐insensitive starting reagents, zinc chloride and selenium powder, have been size‐selected in the Pluronic amphiphilic triblock copolymer [(EO)_x(PO)_y(EO)_x] systems. The size‐selection mechanism between the ZnSe nanoparticles and the triblock copolymers systems is a thermodynamic‐dependent effect. We observe that nanoparticles with special volume (Vs) are trapped first by the triblock copolymers due to the faster entropic depletion interaction arising from the addition of surfactant‐template (micelles) to colloidal nanoparticles. On the other hand, nanoparticles with sizes larger or smaller than Vs will not interact with the surfactant‐templates. They either precipitate quickly by gravity (larger than Vs) or still retain their thermal motion in the aqueous phase (smaller than Vs) when Vs nanoparticles are caught by the surfactant‐templates.     

Crystallization of DNA‐Capped Gold Nanoparticles in High‐Concentration,Divalent Salt Environments

The multiparametric nature of nanoparticle self‐assembly makes it challenging to circumvent the instabilities that lead to aggregation and achieve crystallization under extreme conditions. By using non‐base‐pairing DNA as a model ligand instead of the typical base‐pairing design for programmability, long‐range 2D DNA–gold nanoparticle crystals can be obtained at extremely high salt concentrations and in a divalent salt environment. The interparticle spacings in these 2D nanoparticle crystals can be engineered and further tuned based on an empirical model incorporating the parameters of ligand length and ionic strength.     

Applications of Carbohydrate‐Gold Nanoparticles for Volumetric Flow Measurements Using an Opto‐Acoustic Technique

Gold nanoparticles with carbohydrate ligands attached on their surface have been synthesized and characterized with various techniques. The new nanoparticle conjugates have shown great potentials as a contrast agent for opto‐acoustic imaging. Hemocompatibility measurements of human blood for the carbohydrate‐gold nanoparticles have shown that the conjugates are feasible for in vivo testing. Preliminary quantitative flow measurements using the conjugates were also studied in this work based on the indicator‐dilution theory. In vitro phantom experiments were designed and conducted, and results were discussed.     

Mesoscale Characterization of Nanoparticles Distribution Using X‐ray Scattering

The properties of many functional materials depend critically on the spatial distribution of an active phase within a support. In the case of solid catalysts, controlling the spatial distribution of metal (oxide) nanoparticles at the mesoscopic scale offers new strategies to tune their performance and enhance their lifetimes. However, such advanced control requires suitable characterization methods, which are currently scarce. Here, we show how the background in small‐angle X‐ray scattering patterns can be analyzed to quantitatively access the mesoscale distribution of nanoparticles within supports displaying hierarchical porosity. This is illustrated for copper catalysts supported on meso‐ and microporous silica displaying distinctly different metal distributions. Results derived from X‐ray scattering are in excellent agreement with electron tomography. Our strategy opens unprecedented prospects for understanding the properties and to guide the synthesis of a wide array of functional nanomaterials.     

Synthesis of Photocrosslinkable and Amine Containing Multifunctional Nanoparticles via Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly

Photo‐crosslinkable and amine‐containing block copolymer nanoparticles are synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization‐induced self‐assembly of a multifunctional core‐forming monomer, 2‐((3‐(4‐(diethylamino)phenyl)acryloyl)oxy)ethyl methacrylate (DEMA), using poly(2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) macromolecular chain transfer agent as a steric stabilizer in methanol at 65 °C. By tuning the chain length of PDEMA, a range of nanoparticle morphologies (sphere, worm, and vesicle) can be obtained. Since cinnamate groups can easily undergo a [2 + 2] cycloaddition of the carbon–carbon double bonds upon UV irradiation, the as‐prepared block copolymer nanoparticles are readily stabilized by photo‐crosslinking to produce anisotropic nanoparticles. The crosslinked block copolymer nanoparticles can be used as templates for in situ formation polymer/gold hybrid nanoparticles.

     

Liquid‐Crystalline Phases Made of Gold Nanoparticles

Spontaneous formation of smectic and columnar structures was observed when spherical gold nanoparticles were functionalized with mesogenic thiols (see layered structure and X‐ray pattern of a sample in smectic phase). The particle ordering is stimulated by softening of the interparticle potential and flexibility for deformation of the grafting layer.

     

Inhibition of Inflammation‐Associated Thrombosis with ROS‐Responsive Heparin‐DOCA/PVAX Nanoparticles

Inflammation‐associated thrombosis is a non‐negligible source of mortalities and morbidities worldwide. To manipulate inflammation‐associated coagulation, nanoparticles that contain anti‐inflammatory polymer (copolyoxalate containing vanillyl alcohol, PVAX) and anti‐thrombotic heparin derivative deoxycholic acid (Hep‐DOCA) are prepared. The strategy takes advantage of the reducted side effects of heparin through heparin conjugation, achievement of long‐term anti‐inflammation by inflammation‐trigged release of anti‐inflammatory agents, and formation of PVAX/heparin‐DOCA nanoparticles by co‐self‐assembly. It is demonstrated that the Hep‐DOCA conjugate and PVAX are synthesized successfully; PVAX and Hep‐DOCA nanodrugs (HDP) are obtained by co‐assembly; the HDP nanoparticles effectively reduce the inflammation and coagulation without inducing lethal bleeding both in vivo and in vitro. The method provided here is versatile and effective, which paves new way to develop nanodrugs to treat inflammation‐associated thrombosis safely.     

An Efficient One‐pot Synthesis of 2‐Amino‐5‐arylidenethiazol‐4‐ones Catalyzed by MgO Nanoparticles

A mild and efficient protocol for the synthesis of 2‐amino‐5‐arylidene‐1,3‐thiazol‐4(5H)‐ones is reported by three component reaction of aldehydes, rhodanine and secondary amines in the presence of magnesium oxide nanoparticles as heterogeneous nanocatalyst in good yields and short reaction times.     

Construction of Polycation‐Based Non‐Viral DNA Nanoparticles and Polyanion Multilayers via Layer‐by‐Layer Self‐Assembly

Summary: The multilayers of polycation‐based non‐viral DNA nanoparticles and biodegradable poly(L ‐glutamic acid) (PGA) were constructed by a layer‐by‐layer (LbL) technique. Poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) was used to condense DNA to develop non‐viral DNA nanoparticles. AFM, UV‐visible spectrometry, and TEM measurements revealed that the PEI‐DNA nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into the multilayers. The well‐structured, easily processed multilayers with the non‐viral DNA nanoparticles may provide a novel approach to precisely control the delivery of DNA, which may have great potential for gene therapy applications in tissue engineering, medical implants, etc.

A TEM image of the cross section of a (PGA/PEI‐DNA nanoparticle)₂₀ multilayer.