Article
Chemistry, Physical
Long Jiao, Jiangyi Tong, Yixiao Wu, Yanjun Hu, Huaping Wu, Dongliang Li, Rong Chen
Summary: A new method was proposed to address the adhesion-induced damage issue during removal of supraparticles from a surface by utilizing a biomimetic lubricated-superamphiphobic patterned surface. This approach successfully obtained heterogeneous supraparticles with high replicability and flexibility, demonstrating magnet-controlled maneuverability and catalytic activity of the supraparticles.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jihye Kim, Wonmi Shim, Seong-Min Jo, Sanghyuk Wooh
Summary: The STED method is a surface-templated evaporation driven synthesis technique for assembling colloidal particles into supraparticles, offering advantages in synthesizing supraparticles with various functions, sizes, shapes, compositions, and morphologies.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Talha Erdem, Mykolas Zupkauskas, Thomas O'Neill, Alessio Cassiagli, Peicheng Xu, Yemliha Altintas, Evren Mutlugun, Erika Eiser
Summary: In this study, we demonstrate a method to control the optical features of supraparticle networks through DNA functionalization, and we manipulate the network structure by applying a magnetic field, resulting in anisotropic emission. This work presents a proof-of-concept scheme for utilizing external interactions to control self-assembled supraparticle systems in optics and photonics.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Enrico Lavagna, Sebastian Salassi, Davide Bochicchio, Giulia Rossi
Summary: This study computationally investigates the colloidal aggregation of gold nanoparticles isotropically functionalized by a mixture of charged and hydrophobic ligands, and reveals that anisotropic aggregates with different topologies can be formed by varying the proportion of the two ligands.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
N. A. Usov, R. A. Rytov, V. A. Bautin
Summary: Detailed calculations of the specific absorption rate (SAR) of dilute iron oxide nanoparticles with effective uniaxial anisotropy dispersed in a liquid were performed, showing different behaviors depending on particle diameters and the alternating magnetic field, with the relationship to viscosity being dependent on nanoparticle size. The behavior of SAR was explained by viscous and magnetic oscillation modes, with SAR practically independent of viscosity in the magnetic mode.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Si Li, Michael Veksler, Zhuojia Xu, Liguang Xu, Chuanlai Xu, Nicholas A. Kotov
Summary: This research investigates the catalytic activity of supraparticles made from ZnS nanoparticles in chiral catalysis, demonstrating enantioselective oxidation of tyrosine and tryptophan substrates. The study reveals a new approach for enantioselective catalysts in aqueous mediums utilizing the properties of chiral nanoparticles in catalysis, photonics, and self-assembly.
ACS ENERGY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haohong Sun, Shaohui Lin, Flora T. T. Ng, Sushanta K. Mitra, Qinmin Pan
Summary: Uniform anisotropic microparticles with various shapes were successfully synthesized via emulsion interfacial polymerization. Nanoporous microparticles with a heterogeneous structure resembling a walnut were achieved with modified hydrophilic seeds. The potential applications of shape-controllable fluorescent microparticles and surface modification of microparticles through thiol-click reaction were explored.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mian Wang, Xi Mao, Jingye Liu, Bite Deng, Shuai Deng, Shaohong Jin, Wang Li, Jiang Gong, Renhua Deng, Jintao Zhu
Summary: In this study, a facile and versatile method was developed to prepare anisotropic mesoporous carbon microparticles (MCMPs) through self-assembly and self-templated direct carbonization. The method allows for in situ growth and decoration of functional species in the continuous phase, resulting in MCMPs with unique structures and shapes. These MCMPs have important applications in various fields.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Gianni Jacucci, Brooke W. Longbottom, Christopher C. Parkins, Stefan A. F. Bon, Silvia Vignolini
Summary: Scattering enhancers are nanomaterials used in various materials, modifying the morphology of scattering elements to optimize scattering efficiency. Anisotropic sphero-cylindrical particles have been shown to outperform their isotropic counterparts, achieving excellent scattering performance across the visible electromagnetic spectrum.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi-Ting Cheng, Heng-Kwong Tsao, Yu-Jane Sheng
Summary: In this study, it was demonstrated that various ordered structures of adsorbed nanorods on smooth substrates can be achieved simply by non-affinity adsorption through dissipative particle dynamics simulations. The structures of interfacial assembly depend on nanorod concentration and solvent size, with the arrangement changing from nematic-like to smectic as the concentration increases. The assembly process is driven by entropy and results in a two-dimensional layer-by-layer growth.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Koichiro Ishida, Tetsuo Kondo
Summary: The alignment of anisotropic nanomaterials affects their functions. Rod-like cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) form liquid crystals with self-ordering and exhibit unique optical properties. Native cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are oriented and their orientation correlates with their mechanical strength and cell responses. A fabrication method for non-uniaxial, fingerprint-like alignment of CNFs using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique is proposed. The obtained Langmuir-Blodgett films of CNFs show anisotropic frictional properties depending on the orientation direction. This process for CNF ultrathin film fabrication can be used for novel surface design with desired structure-function correlations, providing anisotropic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
B. S. Shivakumar, Vignesh Gopalakrishnan-Prema, Gayathri Raju, Sumi E. Mathew, Neeraj Katiyar, Deepthy Menon, Sahadev A. Shankarappa
Summary: Microparticle shape can be a tunable design parameter for controlling drug-release kinetics, as demonstrated in this study where anisotropic poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles were used to achieve controlled local anesthesia intensity and duration. The anisotropic microparticles exhibited higher drug release rates and stronger sensory nerve blocking compared to spherical microparticles, highlighting the importance of shape as a design parameter in drug delivery systems.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanbai Pei, Shengming Wu, Peng Wang, Jingwen Qin, Lehua Xu, Yilong Wang
Summary: This study demonstrates the anisotropic self-assembly of magnetic nanoparticles through the control of nanoparticle-protein interaction and magnetic force. The concentration of protein plays a crucial role in the interaction between nanoparticles and proteins and subsequent colloidal assembly. Different protein compositions also lead to variations in the morphology of the assembled structures. Furthermore, the assembled structures can be rapidly dissociated by adding a negative electrolyte, but the dissociated structures can still be recycled.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Minchao Liu, Cheng Shang, Tiancong Zhao, Hongyue Yu, Yufang Kou, Zirui Lv, Mengmeng Hou, Fan Zhang, Qiaowei Li, Dongyuan Zhao, Xiaomin Li
Summary: Porous anisotropic nanohybrids have attracted attention because of their unique properties including high surface area, tunable pore structures, and controllable compositions. Here, authors report a selective occupation strategy to achieve site-specific anisotropic growth of amorphous mesoporous subunits on crystalline MOFs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianyu Wu, Guangrui Chen, Ji Han, Ruigang Sun, Bin Zhao, Guiyuan Zhong, Yusuke Yamauchi, Buyuan Guan
Summary: Researchers have successfully prepared a series of 3D dendritic metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles with highly controllable structural symmetries and hierarchical macro/meso/microporosities through a facile noncentrosymmetric pore-induced anisotropic assembly strategy. The synthetic route of these nanomaterials depends on the anisotropic nucleation of MOF spherical nanocones with noncentrosymmetric center-radial channels and their oriented growth to isotropic nanospheres through a continuous increase in radius and solid angle. These MOF nanoparticles show enhanced catalytic activity in the CO2 cycloaddition reaction compared to microporous UiO-66 nanocrystals.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Diana M. Garcia-Gonzalez, Michiel Hack, Michael Kappl, Hans-Juergen Butt, Jacco H. Snoeijer
CLEAN-SOIL AIR WATER
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Li Xiang, Wen -Da Zhang, Hanwen Xu, Minghan Hu, Jingguo Yang, Jiangyong Liu, Zhi-Guo Gu, Xiaodong Yan
Summary: The introduction of surface-absorbed carboxyl groups greatly enhances the catalytic activity for urea oxidation reaction. Hierarchical microspheres constructed by NiCo(OH)2 nanosheets with abundant Ni3+ species and surface carboxyl groups exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaodong Yan, Wen-Da Zhang, Hanwen Xu, Bing Liu, Minghan Hu, Jiangyong Liu, Zhi-Guo Gu
Summary: Surface coordination chemistry is utilized to enhance the intrinsic activity and working stability of nickel-iron oxides for oxygen evolution reaction. The EDTA-coordinated NixFe3-xO4 exhibited outstanding activity and stability due to the favorable electronic structure and coordination environment induced by EDTA.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Correction
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenxin Wei, Francesca Mazzotta, Ingo Lieberwirth, Katharina Landfester, Calum T. J. Ferguson, Kai A. I. Zhang
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sajjad Shumaly, Fahimeh Darvish, Xiaomei Li, Alexander Saal, Chirag Hinduja, Werner Steffen, Oleksandra Kukharenko, Hans-Juergen Butt, Ruediger Berger
Summary: State-of-the-art contact angle measurements usually involve image analysis of symmetric, sessile drops. However, analyzing videos of drops sliding down a tilted plate is challenging due to low resolution and changing contact angles. To address this, we propose a 4-segment super-resolution optimized-fitting (4S-SROF) method that combines deep learning-based super-resolution and polynomial fitting. Experimental results show that our method improves contact angle accuracy by 21% for angles lower than 90 degrees and by 33% for angles higher than 90 degrees.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kai Zhao, Minghan Hu, Carolina van Baalen, Laura Alvarez, Lucio Isa
Summary: This study aims to efficiently sort Janus particles and colloidal dumbbells of different sizes and materials using alternating-current dielectrophoretic forces. The hypothesis is confirmed through experiments, and the integration of multiple asymmetric orifices is shown to increase the separation efficiency, making it a promising tool for selecting particles with narrowly distributed characteristics.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Katharina I. Hegner, Chirag Hinduja, Hans-Ju''rgen Butt, Doris Vollmer
Summary: Methods for fabricating super-liquid-repellent surfaces have traditionally relied on perfluoroalkyl substances, but concerns over their environmental and health effects have sparked interest in fluorine-free alternatives. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a promising candidate, although it only exhibits superhydrophobicity instead of liquid repellency. In this study, we demonstrate that a well-designed two-tier structure of silicon dioxide nanoparticles and surface-tethered PDMS chains can achieve super-liquid-repellency towards low surface tension liquids. Our work highlights the feasibility of scalable fabrication methods and environmentally friendly surface functionalization for fluorine-free super-liquid-repellent surfaces.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chao Zhu, Till Fuchs, Stefan A. L. Weber, Felix. H. Richter, Gunnar Glasser, Franjo Weber, Hans-Juergen Butt, Juergen Janek, Ruediger Berger
Summary: The growth of lithium dendrites in inorganic solid electrolytes is a major obstacle to the development of reliable all-solid-state lithium metal batteries. The role of grain boundaries in the nucleation and dendritic growth of metallic lithium is not fully understood, but they have been found to be present in post mortem measurements of battery components.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hsiao-Ping Hsu, Manjesh K. Singh, Yu Cang, Heloise Therien-Aubin, Markus Mezger, Ruediger Berger, Ingo Lieberwirth, George Fytas, Kurt Kremer
Summary: A new method for creating nanoporous polymer membranes with well defined pore diameters is introduced, which involves mechanical deformation and quenching of highly entangled polymer films. The approach is validated using polystyrene films and does not require chemical processing, supporting substrate, or self-assembly. The resulting membranes exhibit stable properties and impressive elasticity, with pore diameters on the order of ten polymer reptation tube diameters.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Loris Busch, Anna Maria Hanuschik, Yuri Avlasevich, Katrin Darm, Elisa F. F. Hochheiser, Christian Kohler, Evgeny A. A. Idelevich, Karsten Becker, Peter Rotsch, Katharina Landfester, Maxim E. E. Darvin, Martina C. C. Meinke, Cornelia M. M. Keck, Axel Kramer, Paula Zwicker
Summary: Hair follicles are important drug delivery targets for skin antisepsis due to their high concentration of skin microbiome. Nanoparticles can penetrate deeply into hair follicles and can be triggered to release drugs through various mechanisms. The study introduces UV-responsive nanocapsules containing hydroxyethyl starch, which demonstrated efficient release of ethanol and a strong reduction in microbial load on porcine ear skin. The findings suggest the potential for advanced skin antisepsis using UVA-responsive nanocapsules.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaodong Yan, Zhe Zhang, Hanwen Xu, Wen-Da Zhang, Minghan Hu, Jiangyong Liu, Zhi-Guo Gu, Bing Liu
Summary: The high activity of metal/oxide heterostructures in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is attributed to the synergy between the metal and oxide. In this study, Ni/CeO2_x, Co/CeO2_x, and NiCo/CeO2_x heterostructures were synthesized in situ through hydrogenation. Both experimental and computational results confirm that the presence of Ni promotes the formation of interfacial oxygen vacancies, which enhance the adsorption of H2O molecules and thus facilitate HER. The NiCo/CeO2_x heterostructure exhibits the highest intrinsic activity with a low onset potential, attributed to NiCo alloy-induced regulation in electronic structure and enhanced charge accumulation at the heterointerface.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaomei Li, Francisco Bodziony, Mariana Yin, Holger Marschall, Ruediger Berger, Hans-Juergen Butt
Summary: Liquid drops sliding on tilted surfaces is a common phenomenon with significant industrial applications. Despite its importance, predicting the sliding velocity of the drops is currently impossible. In this study, we measured various parameters of sliding liquid drops on inclined flat surfaces made of different materials, and found that the friction force can be described empirically by a specific equation for a certain velocity range. The dimensionless friction coefficient, which varies between 20 to 200, is a material-specific parameter that is necessary for understanding dynamic wetting.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Youmin Hou, Prexa Shah, Vassilios Constantoudis, Evangelos Gogolides, Michael Kappl, Hans-Juergen Butt
Summary: Membrane distillation (MD) is a new desalination technology that utilizes phase change to separate water vapor from saline based on low-grade energy. A super liquid-repellent membrane with hierarchical porous structures has been developed to address the conflicting requirements of membrane design. The membrane improves distillation flux by up to 60% and exhibits excellent salt rejection and operating stability. This approach has broad applications beyond desalination, such as wastewater treatment.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mareike F. S. Deuker, Volker Mailaender, Svenja Morsbach, Katharina Landfester
Summary: Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is commonly used to reduce unspecific protein adsorption and prolong nanocarrier circulation time, but the presence of anti-PEG antibodies in the bloodstream can counteract its stealth effect. This study found a high concentration and prevalence of anti-PEG antibodies in the German population, which led to higher uptake in macrophages and accelerated blood clearance of PEGylated nanocarriers.
NANOSCALE HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Laura Dietz, Jennifer Oberlaender, Ana Mateos-Maroto, Jenny Schunke, Michael Fichter, Eva-Maria Kraemer-Albers, Katharina Landfester, Volker Mailaender
Summary: This study analyzed the protein composition of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the protein corona around EVs in human blood plasma using a proteomic approach. The influence of the protein corona on the uptake of EVs by human monocytes was then compared with the uptake of engineered liposomes. The results showed that the presence of a protein corona increased the uptake of EVs in human monocytes, indicating a clear difference between EVs and liposomes as nanocarriers.
JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES
(2023)
