"Self-assembly of soft nanoparticles with tunable patchiness".

Thomas M. Hermans ^{1, 2}, Maarten A. C. Broeren ², Nikos Gomopoulos ³, Paul van der Schoot⁴ , Marcel H. P. van Genderen ^{1, 2}, Nico A. J. M. Sommerdijk ⁵, George Fytas ³, and E. W. Meijer ^{1, 2}
 

¹ Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
² Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
³ Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete and F.O.R.T.H., PO Box 1527, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
⁴ Group Theory of Polymers and Soft Matter, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
⁵ Soft Matter CryoTEM Research Unit, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: E. W. Meijer ^{1, 2}     e-mail: e.w.meijer@tue.nl

Abstract:

Details of the forces between nanoparticles determine the ways in which the nanoparticles can self-assemble into larger structures. The use of directed interactions has led to new concepts in self-assembly such as asymmetric dendrons (1, 2), Janus particles (3), patchy colloids (4, 5, 6) and colloidal molecules (7). Recent models that include attractive regions or 'patches' on the surface of the nanoparticles predict a wealth of intricate modes of assembly (8, 9, 10, 11, 12). Interactions between such particles are also important in a range of phenomena including protein aggregation (13, 14) and crystallization (15), re-entrant phase transitions (16, 17, 18), assembly of nanoemulsions (19) and the organization of nanoparticles into nanowires (20). Here, we report the synthesis of 6-nm nanoparticles with dynamic hydrophobic patches and show that they can form reversible self-assembled structures in aqueous solution that become topologically more connected upon dilution. The organization is based on guest–host supramolecular chemistry with the nanoparticles composed of a hydrophobic dendrimer host molecule and water-soluble hydrophilic guest molecules. The work demonstrates that subtle changes in hierarchal composition and/or concentration can dramatically change mesoscopic ordering.

References:

1. Frenster JH, and Hovsepian JA,  (Dec. 2008a)
"Models of successive levels of resolution during individual gene transcription".

2. Frenster JH, and Hovsepian JA,  (Dec. 2008b)
 "Micro RNAs and adult neoplasms of embryonic type".

Links to Current Research in Euchromatin:
Links to Euchromatin Activator RNA Reviews:
Links to Euchromatin Activator RNA Research:
Links to Ultrastructural Probes of DNase I-Sensitive Sites:
Links to RNA as a Therapeutic Agent:
Links to Hodgkin Lymphoma Immuno-Pathology:
Links to Activated T-Lymphocyte Immunotherapy:
Links to Medical Systems Biology:
Links to Selective Gene Transcription:
Links to RNA-Induced Epigenetics:
Links to RNA-Induced Embryogenesis:
Links to RNA and Biological Causality:
Links to Reprogramming and Neoplasia:

A Brief History of Activator RNA:

"Ultrastructural Probes of Active DNA Sites, and the RNA Activators of DNA".
(PowerPoint Presentation).

Top of Page - Euchromatin Network -  Euchromatin Research -  Research in Quantitative Radiology

For Further Information and Feedback:

Jeannette A. Hovsepian, M.D.
E-mail: frensasc@ix.netcom.com
Phone:  +1 650 367 6483