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Shell Thickness (shell + thickness)
Selected AbstractsMonodisperse Polymer Capsules: Tailoring Size, Shell Thickness, and Hydrophobic Cargo Loading via Emulsion TemplatingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 10 2010Jiwei Cui Abstract The preparation of monodisperse polymer (polydopamine, PDA) capsules by a one-step interfacial polymerization of dopamine onto dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDES) emulsion droplets and removal of the DMDES templates with ethanol is reported. The diameters of the PDA capsules can be tailored from 400,nm to 2.4,µm by varying either the DMDES emulsion condensation time or the emulsion concentration used for templating. Further, capsules with defined nanometer-scale shell thicknesses (ranging from ,10 to 30,nm) can be prepared by adjusting the emulsion concentration. This shell thickness can be increased by repeated interfacial polymerization of dopamine, with three cycles yielding capsules with a shell thickness of up to 140,nm (for a 0.6% v/v suspension). Functional substances, such as organically stabilized magnetic (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, quantum dots (CdSe/CdS), and hydrophobic drugs (thiocoraline), can be preloaded in the emulsion droplets, and following PDA coating and DMDES removal, these materials remain encapsulated in the polymer capsules. All of the unloaded and loaded PDA capsules are monodisperse and do not aggregate. This work provides new avenues for the preparation of polymer capsules with defined size and shell thickness and for the encapsulation of a range of hydrophobic substances. [source] A Novel Cathode Material with a Concentration-Gradient for High-Energy and Safe Lithium-Ion BatteriesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 3 2010Yang-Kook Sun Abstract A high-energy functional cathode material with an average composition of Li[Ni0.72Co0.18Mn0.10]O2, mainly comprising a core material Li[Ni0.8Co0.2]O2 encapsulated completely within a stable manganese-rich concentration-gradient shell is successfully synthesized by a co-precipitation process. The Li[Ni0.72Co0.18Mn0.10]O2 with a concentration-gradient shell has a shell thickness of about 1,µm and an outer shell composition rich in manganese, Li[Ni0.55Co0.15Mn0.30]O2. The core material can deliver a very high capacity of over 200,mA h g,1, while the manganese-rich concentration-gradient shell improves the cycling and thermal stability of the material. These improvements are caused by a gradual and continuous increase of the stable tetravalent Mn in the concentration-gradient shell layer. The electrochemical and thermal properties of this cathode material are found to be far superior to those of the core Li[Ni0.8Co0.2]O2 material alone. Electron microscopy also reveals that the original crystal structure of this material remains intact after cycling. [source] Au@pNIPAM Thermosensitive Nanostructures: Control over Shell Cross-linking, Overall Dimensions, and Core GrowthADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2009Rafael Contreras-Cáceres Abstract Thermoresponsive nanocomposites comprising a gold nanoparticle core and a poly(N -isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) shell are synthesized by grafting the gold nanoparticle surface with polystyrene, which allows the coating of an inorganic core with an organic shell. Through careful control of the experimental conditions, the pNIPAM shell cross-linking density can be varied, and in turn its porosity and stiffness, as well as shell thickness from a few to a few hundred nanometers is tuned. The characterization of these core,shell systems is carried out by photon-correlation spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Additionally, the porous pNIPAM shells are found to modulate the catalytic activity, which is demonstrated through the seeded growth of gold cores, either retaining the initial spherical shape or developing a branched morphology. The nanocomposites also present thermally modulated optical properties because of temperature-induced local changes of the refractive index surrounding the gold cores. [source] Nacre in Mollusk Shells as a Multilayered Structure with Strain GradientADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009Boaz Pokroy Abstract How do living organisms attain the complicated shapes of grown bio-composites? This question is answered when studying the mechanics of the nacre layer in the bivalve mollusk shells. In this study, the internal strains/stresses across the shell thickness are profiled as a function of depth by strain gauge measurements during controlled etching in the selected areas. Measurements of stress release under etching provide clear evidence that the investigated shells, in fact, are strained multilayered structures, which are elastically bent due to the forces evolving at the organic/inorganic interfaces. The stresses are mostly concentrated in the "fresh" nacre sub-layers near the inner surface of the shell adjacent to the mollusk mantle. This analysis unexpectedly shows that the elastic bending of the nacre layer is due to strain gradients which are originated in the gradual in-depth changes of the thickness of ceramic lamellae. The changes mentioned were directly observed by scanning electron microscopy. By this sophisticated design of the ultra-structure of the nacre layer, the bowed shape of the bivalve shells is apparently achieved. [source] Facile and Scalable Synthesis of Tailored Silica "Nanorattle" StructuresADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 37 2009Dong Chen Silica "nanorattles" are fabricated by means of selective etching of ingeniously designed organic,inorganic hybrid silica spheres with a three-layer "sandwich" structure. The size (95,645,nm), shell thickness, and core diameter of the monodisperse nanorattles can be precisely controlled, even in gram-scale production. This method is also shown to be promising for development as a general method for synthesis of rattle-type functional nanomaterials. [source] Differences in egg size, shell thickness, pore density, pore diameter and water vapour conductance between first and second eggs of Snares Penguins Eudyptes robustus and their influence on hatching asynchronyIBIS, Issue 2 2005MELANIE MASSARO Brood reduction in birds is frequently induced by hatching asynchrony. Crested penguins (genus Eudyptes) are obligate brood reducers, but in contrast to most other birds, first-laid eggs are considerably smaller in size than second-laid eggs; furthermore, first-laid eggs hatch after their siblings. The mechanisms underlying this reversal in size and hatching order remain unclear. In this study, we tested whether the second-laid eggs of Snares Penguins Eudyptes robustus have a higher eggshell porosity allowing them to maintain a higher metabolic rate throughout incubation and to hatch before their first-laid siblings. We investigated differences in egg size, shell thickness, pore density, pore diameter and water vapour conductance between first and second eggs within clutches and examined the influence of these shell characteristics on hatching asynchrony. First-laid eggs of Snares Penguins were approximately 78% of the size of the larger second eggs. Second-laid eggs had considerably thicker shells and more pores per cm2 than first eggs, whereas pore diameter did not differ between eggs. Water vapour conductance was greater in second- (16.8 mg/day/torr) than in first-laid eggs (14.9 mg/day/torr). The difference in water vapour conductance between first- and second-laid eggs within clutches was related to hatching patterns. In nests where second eggs hatched before first-laid eggs, second eggs had a considerably greater water conductance than their sibling, whereas in nests where both eggs hatched on the same day, the difference in water conductance between eggs was very small, and in a few nests where small first eggs hatched before their larger sibling, they had a greater water conductance than their larger second-laid nestmate. Surprisingly few studies have investigated differences in shell characteristics between eggs within clutches and associated effects on hatching asynchrony. This study has demonstrated that such differences exist between eggs within clutches and that they can influence hatching patterns. [source] Fabrication of Polypyrrole, Poly(N -vinylcarbazole) Core,Shell Nanoparticles with Excellent Electrical and Optical Properties,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 11 2005J. Jang Polypyrrole,poly(N -vinylcarbazole) (PPy,PVK) core,shell nanoparticles have been fabricated by nanoparticle-seeded dispersion polymerization. The monodisperse PPy nanoseeds are fabricated by micelle templating, and the PVK shell thickness is easily tuned by varying the amount of N -vinylcarbazole monomer. The PPy core and PVK shell produce superior conductivity and fluorescence, respectively (see Figure). [source] Micellar structure of amphiphilic poly(2-oxazoline) diblock copolymersJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 2007C. M. Papadakis Amphiphilic diblock copolymers from poly(2-oxazoline)s in aqueous solution can form micelles. By means of small-angle neutron scattering, we have found that poly[(n -nonyl-2-oxazoline)- b -(methyl-2-oxazoline)] {P[(NOx)- b -(MOx)]} diblock copolymers in aqueous solution form micelles of core-shell type. We have determined the core radius and the shell thickness of the micelles. Comparing the values obtained to the stretched lengths of the blocks leads to the conclusion that the P(NOx) core blocks are stretched, whereas the P(MOx) shell blocks are coiled. [source] The application of distance distribution functions to structural analysis of core,shell particlesJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 2007Oleksandr O. Mykhaylyk The structure of core,shell latex particles of polymethylmethacrylate (the core) and polyurethane (the shell) have been investigated by methods of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and atom-force microscopy. A set of SAXS patterns has been obtained using contrast variation method. Indirect methods have been used to follow the evolution of distance distribution functions from SAXS for lattices in various sucrose solutions over a range of solution density, yielding structural parameters of the particles such as core size, shell thickness and density of the polymers including density deviations within the particle's core and shell. A model for an ensemble of core,shell particles with a normal distribution of average electron density of both the core and the shell has been developed to fit the distance distribution functions using a random search algorithm. The effects of nanophase separation in the polyurethane is estimated using Monte Carlo simulations of the distance distribution functions where the phase-separated polyurethane is represented by spherical truncated cones in a shell simulating the location of hard and soft polyurethane blocks, respectively. [source] Hollow polylactide microcapsules with controlled morphology and thermal and mechanical propertiesAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 11 2009Hassan Sawalha Abstract Hollow polylactide microcapsules were prepared by multistage premix membrane emulsification of polylactide/dichloromethane/oil solutions in water (nonsolvent). The effects of the different oils on the morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties of the hollow microcapsules were investigated. All oils resulted in hollow microcapsules with controlled shell thickness of ,60 nm except for eugenol, in which irregular, massive capsules were obtained. The properties of the microcapsules were strongly dependent on the oil used, for example the thermal transition temperatures found for hollow capsules were lower than for solid particles prepared without any oil. The crystallinity and transition temperatures of the capsules prepared with linear alkanes were higher than for cyclic alkanes; terpenes gave the lowest transition temperatures. The shell stiffness, measured with atomic force microscopy, was highly dependent on the oil used. Capsules prepared with dodecane showed higher stiffness (3.3 N m,1) than with limonene (2 N m,1) or cyclohexane (1.4 N m,1). © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] Core,shell structure and segregation effects in composite droplet polymer blendsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2003Joël Reignier Core,shell morphology formation within the dispersed phase was studied for composite droplet polymer-blend systems comprising a high-density polyethylene matrix, polystyrene shell and different molecular weights of poly(methyl methacrylate) core material. The blends were prepared in the melt using an internal mixer, and the morphology was analyzed by electron microscopy. Changing the viscoelastic properties of the core in the dispersed phase dramatically affects PS-PMMA segregation within the dispersed composite droplet itself. A high-molecular-weight-PMMA core contains a large quantity of occluded PS inclusions, while the low-molecular-weight PMMA results in a perfectly segregated PS shell and PMMA core. These phenomena were attributed to the viscosity of the PMMA. Using the latter system, a direct microscopic study of the shell formation process demonstrates unambiguously that under conditions of perfect segregation, the onset of complete shell formation corresponds to a shell thickness that is close to two times the radius of gyration of polystyrene. Thus, the thinnest possible shell in such a system possesses a molecular-scale thickness. The system with the high-molecular-weight-PMMA core demonstrates an onset of complete shell formation that is displaced to higher concentrations due to the poor segregation effect. By counterbalancing the effects of viscosity ratio and interfacial effects on the composite droplet size, it is possible to generate perfectly segregated core,shell dispersed-phase morphologies of almost identical size with a controlled shell thickness ranging from 40 to 300 nm. [source] Small-molecule release from poly(D,L -lactide)/poly(D,L -lactide-co-glycolide) composite microparticlesJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 9 2005Emily J. Pollauf Abstract Addition of biodegradable polymer shells surrounding polymeric, drug-loaded microparticles offers the opportunity to control drug release rates. A novel fabrication method was used to produce microparticles with precise control of particle diameter and the thickness of the polymer shell. The effect of shell thickness on release of a model drug, piroxicam, has been clearly shown for 2- to 15-µm thick shells of poly(D,L -lactide) (PDLL) surrounding a poly(D,L -lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) core and compared to pure PLG microspheres loaded with piroxicam. Furthermore, the core-shell microparticles are compared to microspheres containing blended polymers in the same mass ratios to demonstrate the importance of the core-shell morphology. Combining PDLL(PLG) microcapsules of different shell thicknesses allows nearly constant release rates to be attained for a period of 6 weeks. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 94:2013,2022, 2005 [source] Effects of egg weight on egg quality characteristicsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 3 2009Ahmet, ekero Abstract BACKGROUND: The experiment was carried out with total of 270 eggs, which were collected from a brown-egg layer strain of Lohmann hens reared in a cage system. Collected eggs were categorized according to weight and classified as medium, large, extra-large or jumbo. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of egg weight on egg quality characteristics. RESULTS: The darkest shell color scales were noted in jumbo eggs. The redness of egg shell color in the medium egg was significantly lower than that of the other egg sizes (P < 0.05). Egg shell thickness (P < 0.05) was highest in medium egg (0.400 mm) and lowest in extra-large egg (0.382 mm). Albumen height (AH) was significantly affected by egg weight (EW) (P < 0.01). Yolk height (YH) and yolk index (YI) increased with egg size. Breaking strength was highest in the medium-weight egg. There were significant positive correlations between EW and AH, EW and YH, EW and YI, EW and yol color, EW and redness (a), but EW had significant negative correlations with ST in overall eggs. CONCLUSION: The darkest shell color (L - a - b) was noted in the jumbo egg. Albumen height and yolk height increased with egg weight. Increase in egg weight caused darkness in the yolk color scale. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Superhydrophobic 3D Microstructures Assembled From 1D Nanofibers of PolyanilineMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 3 2008Ying Zhu Abstract Superhydrophobic dandelion-like 3D microstructures self-assembled from 1D nanofibers of PANI were prepared by a self-assembly process in the presence of perfluorosebacic acid (PFSEA) as a dopant. The dandelion-like microspheres (about 5 µm) are composed of uniform Y-shaped junction nanofibers of about 210 nm average diameter and several micrometers in length, as measured by SEM. The dandelion-like microstructure is coreless with a hollow cavity, and the shell thickness is about one third of the sphere diameter, as measured by TEM. Since PFESA dopant has a low surface energy perfluorinated carbon chain and two hydrophilic COOH end groups, it has dopant, is a "soft-template" and brings about superhydrophobic functions at the same time. Moreover, it is proposed that the self-assembly of PANI 1D nanofibers, driven by a combined interaction of hydrogen bonding, ,-, stacking and hydrophobic interactions, leads to the formation of the 3D microstructures. [source] Opal Gels Templated Synthesis of Structured Titania Materials,MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 20 2004Jianhua Rong Abstract Summary: Core/shell opal gels of sulfonated polystyrene were used as templates to synthesize structured crystalline titania materials. Under acidic conditions, opal materials with hollow spheres of controllable shell thickness and cavity size were prepared. Under neutral conditions, inverse opal inorganic materials with a tunable pore size were prepared. It is crucial that proton ions induce a preferential sol/gel process, forming titania in the gel. Scanning electron micrograph of the interior region of a structured titania material derived from the G1 template used here. The inset shows broken spheres in which the internal cavity can be observed. [source] Poor phenotypic integration of blue mussel inducible defenses in environments with multiple predatorsOIKOS, Issue 5 2009Aaren S. Freeman Aquatic prey encounter an array of threat cues from multiple predators and killed conspecifics, yet the vast majority of induced defenses are investigated using cues from single predator species. In most cases, it is unclear if odors from multiple predators will disrupt defenses observed in single-predator induction experiments. We experimentally compared the inducible defenses of the common marine mussel Mytilus edulis to waterborne odor from pairwise combinations of three predators representing two attack strategies. Predators included the sea star, Asterias vulgaris (=Asteriasrubens), and the crabs Carcinus maenas and Cancer irroratus. The mussels increased adductor muscle mass in response to cues from unfed Asterias (a predatory seastar that pulls mussel shells open) and increased shell thickness in response to unfed Carcinus, a predatory crab that crushes or peels shells. However, the mussels did not express either predator specific response when exposed to the combined cues of Asterias and Carcinus, and mussels did not increase shell thickness when exposed to cues from Cancer alone or any pairwise combination of the three predators. Shell closure or ,clamming up' did not occur in response to any predator combination. These results suggest that predator-specific responses to the Asterias and Carcinus are poorly integrated and cannot be expressed simultaneously. Simultaneous cues from multiple predators affect the integration of predator specific defenses and predator odors from functionally similar predators do not necessarily initiate similar defenses. Ultimately, the degree that prey can integrate potentially disparate defenses in a multiple predator environment may have ecological ramifications and represent a seldom explored facet of the evolution of inducible defenses. [source] Synthesis, characterization, and its PL dynamics of colloidal type II CdTe/CdSe nanocrystalsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 1 2009Masaru Oda Abstract We describe our improved synthesis and optical properties of high quality type II CdTe/CdSe nanocrystals (NCs). Specifically, clear shell-thickness dependences have been observed in the absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra and PL decay profiles as well. The magnitude of the lowest absorption band decreases drastically with large redshift as the shell thickness increases. The origin will be discussed on the bases of the model where the spatial configuration of the lowest electron-hole pair in the NCs changes from that of type I to type II as the shell thickness increases. As for the PL lifetime of the lowest electron-hole excitations, substantial increase is observed with increasing shell thickness. This can also be understood by considering the spatial configuration; spatial overlap between electron and hole wavefunctions decreases with increasing shell thickness, thus the lifetime increases. As for the NCs with extremely thin shell (,1 ML; 1 ML = 0.35 nm), the PL lifetime seems much longer than expected. This suggests that the thin shells seem imperfect and work rather a kind of trap sites than layers. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Viscoelastic and damping characteristics of poly(n -butyl acrylate)-poly(n -butyl methacrylate) semi-IPN latex filmsPOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 5 2007K. I. Suresh Abstract This article reports the synthesis, characterization, and damping characteristics of semi-interpenetrating (semi-IPN) latex systems composed of poly n -butyl acrylate (PBA) core and poly n -butyl methacrylate (PBMA) shell. The IPN's were prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization using crosslinked PBA seeds with varying crosslinker (m -diisopropenyl benzene) concentration. The polymer weight ratio in the first and second stage polymerization is maintained at 1:1 in all the cases. The particle size determined by dynamic light scattering shows a decrease in the shell thickness with increasing crosslinker concentration of the seed. The mechanical properties, like Shore A hardness of the films, increased from 18 to 65 when the crosslinker concentration is increased from 0 to 4.8,mol%. The dynamic mechanical studies show that the modulus value of the IPN's is below that of non-crosslinked films, and the value depends upon the crosslink density of the seed. Mechanical models, such as the Kerner's model and the Takayanagi's model, were used to explain the variation in the dynamic mechanical properties with the degree of seed crosslinking. The study indicates lower bound (rubbery) behavior for the films with lightly crosslinked cores. The study also shows that, at lower crosslinker concentration enhanced phase separation and better damping properties are achieved but at higher cross linker concentration (>2,mol%) greater interpenetration of the shell monomer to the cores takes place and tough films, with reduced damping properties are formed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Polymorphisms in eggshell organic matrix genes are associated with eggshell quality measurements in pedigree Rhode Island Red hensANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 1 2009I. C. Dunn Summary Novel and traditional eggshell quality measurements were made from up to 2000 commercial pedigree hens for a candidate gene association analysis with organic eggshell matrix genes: ovocleidin-116, osteopontin (SPP1), ovocalyxin-32 (RARRES1), ovotransferrin (LTF), ovalbumin and ovocalyxin-36, as well as key genes in the maintenance and function of the shell gland [estrogen receptor (ESR1) and carbonic anhydrase II (CAII)]. Associations were found for (i) ovalbumin with breaking strength and shell thickness; (ii) ovocleidin-116 with elastic modulus, shell thickness and egg shape; (iii) RARRES1 with mammillary layer thickness; (iv) ESR1 with dynamic stiffness; (v) SPP1 with fracture toughness and (vi) CAII with egg shape. The marker effects are as large as 17% of trait standard deviations and could be used to improve eggshell quality. [source] Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with egg quality, egg production, and body weight in an F2 resource population of chickens,ANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 2 2006M. A. Schreiweis Summary Egg production and egg quality are complex sex-limited traits that may benefit from the implementation of marker-assisted selection. The primary objective of the current study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with egg traits, egg production, and body weight in a chicken resource population. Layer (White Leghorn hens) and broiler (Cobb-Cobb roosters) lines were crossed to generate an F2 population of 508 hens over seven hatches. Phenotypes for 29 traits (weekly body weight from hatch to 6 weeks, egg traits including egg, albumen, yolk, and shell weight, shell thickness, shell puncture score, percentage of shell, and egg shell colour at 35 and 55 weeks of age, as well as egg production between 16 and 55 weeks of age) were measured in hens of the resource population. Genotypes of 120 microsatellite markers on 28 autosomal groups were determined, and interval mapping was conducted to identify putative QTL. Eleven QTL tests representing two regions on chromosomes 2 and 4 surpassed the 5% genome-wise significance threshold. These QTL influenced egg colour, egg and albumen weight, percent shell, body weight, and egg production. The chromosome 4 QTL region is consistent with multiple QTL studies that define chromosome 4 as a critical region significantly associated with a variety of traits across multiple resource populations. An additional 64 QTL tests surpassed the 5% chromosome-wise significance threshold. [source] Preparation of Core,Shell-Structured Nanoparticles (with a Noble-Metal or Metal Oxide Core and a Chromia Shell) and Their Application in Water Splitting by Means of Visible LightCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 26 2010Kazuhiko Maeda Dr. Abstract Core,shell-structured nanoparticles, consisting of a noble metal or metal oxide core and a chromia (Cr2O3) shell, were studied as promoters for photocatalytic water splitting under visible light. Core nanoparticles were loaded by impregnation, adsorption or photodeposition onto a solid solution of gallium nitride and zinc oxide (abbreviated GaN:ZnO), which is a particulate semiconductor photocatalyst with a band gap of approximately 2.7,eV, and a Cr2O3 shell was formed by photodeposition using a K2CrO4 precursor. Photodeposition of Cr2O3 on GaN:ZnO modified with a noble metal (Rh, Pd and Pt) or metal oxide (NiOx, RuO2 and Rh2O3) co-catalyst resulted in enhanced photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting under visible light (,>400,nm). This enhancement in activity was primarily due to the suppression of undesirable reverse reactions (H2,O2 recombination and/or O2 photoreduction) and/or protection of the core component from chemical corrosion, depending on the core type. Among the core materials examined, Rh species exhibited relatively high performance for this application. The activity for visible-light water splitting on GaN:ZnO modified with an Rh/Cr2O3 core,shell configuration was dependent on both the dispersion of Rh nanoparticles and the valence state. In addition, the morphology of the Cr2O3 photodeposits was significantly affected by the valence state of Rh and the pH at which the photoreduction of K2CrO4 was conducted. When a sufficient amount of K2CrO4 was used as the precursor and the solution pH ranged from 3 to 7.5, Cr2O3 was successfully formed with a constant shell thickness (,2,nm) on metallic Rh nanoparticles, which resulted in an effective promoter for overall water splitting. [source] Monodisperse Polymer Capsules: Tailoring Size, Shell Thickness, and Hydrophobic Cargo Loading via Emulsion TemplatingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 10 2010Jiwei Cui Abstract The preparation of monodisperse polymer (polydopamine, PDA) capsules by a one-step interfacial polymerization of dopamine onto dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDES) emulsion droplets and removal of the DMDES templates with ethanol is reported. The diameters of the PDA capsules can be tailored from 400,nm to 2.4,µm by varying either the DMDES emulsion condensation time or the emulsion concentration used for templating. Further, capsules with defined nanometer-scale shell thicknesses (ranging from ,10 to 30,nm) can be prepared by adjusting the emulsion concentration. This shell thickness can be increased by repeated interfacial polymerization of dopamine, with three cycles yielding capsules with a shell thickness of up to 140,nm (for a 0.6% v/v suspension). Functional substances, such as organically stabilized magnetic (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, quantum dots (CdSe/CdS), and hydrophobic drugs (thiocoraline), can be preloaded in the emulsion droplets, and following PDA coating and DMDES removal, these materials remain encapsulated in the polymer capsules. All of the unloaded and loaded PDA capsules are monodisperse and do not aggregate. This work provides new avenues for the preparation of polymer capsules with defined size and shell thickness and for the encapsulation of a range of hydrophobic substances. [source] Biotemplated Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticle,Bacteria Cellulose Nanofiber Nanocomposites and Their Application in BiosensingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2010Taiji Zhang Abstract Bacteria cellulose (BC) nanofibers are used as robust biotemplates for the facile fabrication of novel gold nanoparticle (NP),bacteria cellulose nanofiber (Au,BC) nanocomposites via a one-step method. The BC nanofibers are uniformly coated with Au NPs in aqueous suspension using poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) as the reducing and linking agent. With the addition of different halides, Au,BC nanocomposites with different Au shell thicknesses are formed, and a possible formation mechanism is proposed by taking into account the special role played by PEI. A novel H2O2 biosensor is constructed using the obtained Au,BC nanocomposites as excellent support for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilization, which allows the detection of H2O2 with a detection limit lower than 1,µM. The Au,BC nanocomposites could be further used for the immobilization of many other enzymes, and thus, may find potential applications in bioelectroanalysis and bioelectrocatalysis. [source] Small-molecule release from poly(D,L -lactide)/poly(D,L -lactide-co-glycolide) composite microparticlesJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 9 2005Emily J. Pollauf Abstract Addition of biodegradable polymer shells surrounding polymeric, drug-loaded microparticles offers the opportunity to control drug release rates. A novel fabrication method was used to produce microparticles with precise control of particle diameter and the thickness of the polymer shell. The effect of shell thickness on release of a model drug, piroxicam, has been clearly shown for 2- to 15-µm thick shells of poly(D,L -lactide) (PDLL) surrounding a poly(D,L -lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) core and compared to pure PLG microspheres loaded with piroxicam. Furthermore, the core-shell microparticles are compared to microspheres containing blended polymers in the same mass ratios to demonstrate the importance of the core-shell morphology. Combining PDLL(PLG) microcapsules of different shell thicknesses allows nearly constant release rates to be attained for a period of 6 weeks. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 94:2013,2022, 2005 [source] | ||||||||||||||||