Early View

Communications

Hybrid materials

Enhancement and Directionality of Spontaneous Emission in Hybrid Self-Assembled Photonic-Plasmonic Crystals (p NA)
Martín López-García, Juan F. Galisteo-López, Alvaro Blanco, Jorge Sánchez-Marcos, Cefe López, Antonio García-Martín
Published Online: Jul 27 2010 8:31AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000216

	A hybrid photonic-plasmonic crystal structure comprising a close-packed monolayer of dielectric spheres deposited on plasmon-supporting gold substrate is investigated. The spontaneous emission of organic dyes embedded in the beads experiences a strong modification in intensity, polarization, and directionality. These facts are accounted for considering the hybridization of modes arising from the photonic and plasmonic components of the structure.

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Polymersomes

Fabrication of Polymersomes using Double-Emulsion Templates in Glass-Coated Stamped Microfluidic Devices (p NA)
Julian Thiele, Adam R. Abate, Ho Cheung Shum, Simone Bachtler, Stephan Förster, David A. Weitz
Published Online: Jul 27 2010 3:38AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000798

	The formation of polymersomes from copolymer-stabilized double emulsions in glass-coated, PDMS microfluidic devices is described. The device geometry enables separate injection of two organic solvents to form the shell phase of the double emulsion. This allows proper combination of the two solvents, which is essential for forming polymersomes.

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Nanowiring

Flexible Nanowiring of Metal on Nonplanar Substrates by Femtosecond-Laser-Induced Electroless Plating (p NA)
Bin-Bin Xu, Hong Xia, Li-Gang Niu, Yong-Lai Zhang, Kai Sun, Qi-Dai Chen, Ying Xu, Zhi-Qiu Lv, Zhi-Hong Li, Hiroaki Misawa, Hong-Bo Sun
Published Online: Jul 27 2010 3:38AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000511

	Metal micropatterns with good conductivity are directly written on various nonplanar substrates by immersion in a metal-salt solution and laser-induced electroless plating. The line width is adjusted by control of the laser power. A microheater inside a microchannel is fabricated for use in small-region temperature regulation.

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Construction of Robust Bio-nanotubes using the Controlled Self-Assembly of Component Proteins of Bacteriophage T4 (p NA)
Norihiko Yokoi, Hiroshi Inaba, Makoto Terauchi, Adam Z. Stieg, Nusrat J. M. Sanghamitra, Tomomi Koshiyama, Katsuhide Yutani, Shuji Kanamaru, Fumio Arisaka, Tatsuo Hikage, Atsuo Suzuki, Takashi Yamane, James K. Gimzewski, Yoshihito Watanabe, Susumu Kitagawa, Takafumi Ueno
Published Online: Jul 26 2010 1:20PM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000772

	The synthesis of a robust bio-nanotube consisting of the -helical tubular component proteins of bacteriophage T4 is described. The crystal structure indicates that it has a well-defined nanoscale length of 10 nm as a result of the head-to-head dimerization of -helices. Surprisingly, the tube assembly has high thermal stability, high tolerance to organic solvents, and a wide pH-stability range.

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Nanoscale La(OH)₃ Hollow Spheres and Fine-Tuning of Its Outer Diameter and Cavity Size (p NA)
Peter Leidinger, Radian Popescu, Dagmar Gerthsen, Claus Feldmann
Published Online: Jul 26 2010 1:20PM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000575

	Size control in advance: water-in-oil microemulsions exhibiting micelles of precisely adjusted size can be used to prepare La(OH)3 hollow spheres with fine-tuned diameter and cavity size. Namely La(OH)3 hollow spheres are obtained with outer diameters ranging from 11 to 30 nm and an inner cavity from 2 to 17 nm.

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Iron Carbide: An Ancient Advanced Material (p NA)
Cristina Giordano, Alexander Kraupner, Stuart C. Wimbush, Markus Antonietti
Published Online: Jul 26 2010 1:20PM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000437

	An easy-to-handle Fe3C powder constituted of nanoparticles is prepared in a simple, fast and relatively cheap way. The nanoparticles are crystalline, small (d 8 nm), and superparamagnetic. Despite the absence of any significant coating shell, these nanoparticles are stable against oxidation and can represent a perfect base for the generation of novel ferrofluids.

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Supramolecular materials

Chemical Tags Mediate the Orthogonal Self-Assembly of DNA Duplexes into Supramolecular Structures (p NA)
Nick Mitchell, Andreas Ebner, Peter Hinterdorfer, Robert Tampé, Stefan Howorka
Published Online: Jul 26 2010 1:20PM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000790

	A new chemical approach that achieves ordered self-assembly of biomolecules is reported. The chemical tags bis-nitrilotriacetic acid (bisNTA) and hexahistidine (His6) are attached to DNA duplexes that self-assemble into supramolecular structures whose subunits are held together by Ni2-bisNTA-His6-chelate bridges.

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Nanosensors

Bioinspired Target-Specific Crystallization on Peptide Nanotubes for Ultrasensitive Pb Ion Detection (p NA)
Roberto de la Rica, Ernest Mendoza, Hiroshi Matsui
Published Online: Jul 26 2010 1:20PM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000489

	An ultralow concentration of Pb ions is detected by a sensor integrating a peptide nanotube detection platform with a smart peptide function that specifically metalizes the target ion. As the PbII-binding peptide on the nanotube, which bridges two electrodes, templates Pb nanowires, a resistor appears in the circuit, and conductance is detected as the signal for PbII.

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Autonomous motion

Autonomously Moving Catalytic Microellipsoids Dynamically Guided by External Magnetic Fields (p NA)
Pietro Tierno, Rosa Albalat, Francesc Sagués
Published Online: Jul 21 2010 10:32AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000832

	Spherical and anisotropic catalytic microtransporters are realized using spherical and elliptical colloids half-coated with Pt and immersed in an aqueous H2O2 solution. How to control and guide the anisotropc particles using dynamic magnetic modulations is demonstrated. The proposed method, which enables the control of chemically powered micrometerscale particles in fluid media, has potential for applications in microscale transport and lab-on-a-chip technology.

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Nanowire assemblies

Alignment Strategies for the Assembly of Nanowires with Submicron Diameters (p NA)
Jong Kuk Lim, Byung Yang Lee, María Laura Pedano, Andrew J. Senesi, Jae-Won Jang, Wooyoung Shim, Seunghun Hong, Chad A. Mirkin
Published Online: Jul 21 2010 10:32AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000815

	Two alignment strategies are introduced to assemble and align template-grown gold nanowires with submicron diameters. Multiple nanowires are effectively assembled across large areas on hydrophilic templates by exploiting the low interfacial tension at the water-chloroform interface. To achieve single nanowire alignment, the nanowires may be brushed across an array of lithographically defined trenches.

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Nanoparticles

Atomic-Scale Characterization of Aluminum-Based Multishell Nanoparticles Created by Solid-State Synthesis (p NA)
Christian Monachon, David C. Dunand, David N. Seidman
Published Online: Jul 21 2010 10:32AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000325

	Core/double-shell nanoparticles are produced by solid-state precipitation in an aluminum matrix and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and atom-probe tomography. By choosing three solute elements (Yb, Sc, Li) with substantially disparate diffusivities and by judiciously selecting aging temperatures to precipitate each element sequentially, nanoparticles are formed with three chemically distinct concentric Al3(Yb,Sc,Li) phases with radii of 1.6, 3.4, and 13.4 nm.

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Atomic Switches

Photoassisted Formation of an Atomic Switch (p NA)
Takami Hino, Hirofumi Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, Masakazu Aono, Takuji Ogawa
Published Online: Jul 13 2010 3:20PM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000472

	Photoassisted atomic switches are demonstrated. Nanogaps of tens of nanometers in Pt-Ag2S/Ag electrodes with photoconductive organic thin layers can be bridged by Ag whiskers growing from an Ag2S surface under both light irradiation and application of a bias. After the photoassisted formation of Ag whiskers, the switch works as a conventional atomic switch by alternating the polarization of the applied bias.

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SERS Substrates

Self-Organized Hexagonal-Nanopore SERS Array (p NA)
Dukhyun Choi, Yeonho Choi, Soongweon Hong, Taewook Kang, Luke P. Lee
Published Online: Mar 23 2010 9:50AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.200901937

	Non-lithographic fabrication of a self-aligned nanopore SERS array with large-area hexagonal symmetry is achieved by Au deposition on an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template. Precise self-formation of plasmonic nanopore arrays with facile structural tunability allows control of the SERS response, and results in highly reproducible, uniform, and sensitive SERS with an enhancement factor of 107.

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Full Papers

Enhancing Surface Plasmon Detection Using Ultrasmall Nanoslits and a Multispectral Integration Method (p NA)
Kuang-Li Lee, Pei-Kuen Wei
Published Online: Jul 28 2010 10:24AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000598

	To increase the detection limit of gold nanostructures, a multispectral integration method considers all the resonances due to localized surface plasmons, Bloch wave surface plasmons, and Woods anomalies. The detection resolution is about six times better than that for commonly used wavelength or intensity methods. The detection sensitivity is increased with the decrease of the slit width.

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Vaccine delivery

Nanopatch-Targeted Skin Vaccination against West Nile Virus and Chikungunya Virus in Mice (p NA)
Tarl W. Prow, Xianfeng Chen, Natalie A. Prow, Germain J. P. Fernando, Cindy S. E. Tan, Anthony P. Raphael, David Chang, Merja P. Ruutu, Derek W. K. Jenkins, Alyssa Pyke, Michael L. Crichton, Kristin Raphaelli, Lucas Y. H. Goh, Ian H. Frazer, Michael S. Roberts, Joy Gardner, Alexander A. Khromykh, Andreas Suhrbier, Roy A. Hall, Mark A. F. Kendall
Published Online: Jul 27 2010 8:31AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000331

	A miniaturized microneedle patch for targeted cutaneous delivery of conventional and DNA vaccines using the West Nile and Chikungunya virus model systems is developed. Once the vaccine is delivered through the skin, the number of antigen-presenting cells decreases dramatically over the next 3 days, resulting in successful vaccination and protection.

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Phase Transitions

Density Fluctuations and Phase Transitions of Ferroelectric Polymer Nanowires (p NA)
Anatoli Serghei, Jodie L. Lutkenhaus, Daniel F. Miranda, Kathleen McEnnis, Friedrich Kremer, Thomas P. Russell
Published Online: Jul 27 2010 3:38AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000562

	The measurement of the dielectric permittivity in the high frequency limit (in spectral regions not affected by dielectric dispersions) offers an effective and very sensitive means to assess density fluctuations, and hence phase transitions, in nanoscopic systems. The sensitivity of this approach is demonstrated by assessing the phase transition behavior of ferroelectric polymer nanowires confined within alumina membranes.

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Optical nanoprocessing

High-Throughput Near-Field Optical Nanoprocessing of Solution-Deposited Nanoparticles (p NA)
Heng Pan, David J. Hwang, Seung H. Ko, Tabitha A. Clem, Jean M. J. Fréchet, Dieter Bäuerle, Costas P. Grigoropoulos
Published Online: Jul 27 2010 3:38AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000345

	Fluidically assembled microspheres are used as near-field optical lenses for the laser-assisted nanosintering and nanoablation of solution-deposited nanoparticles. The microsphere array can be selectively illuminated for arbitrary patterning. Organic field-effect transistors with oxygen-stable semiconducting polymer are fabricated with nanosintered electrodes.

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Coexistence of Vapor-Liquid-Solid and Vapor-Solid-Solid Growth Modes in Pd-Assisted InAs Nanowires (p NA)
Stefan Heun, Boya Radha, Daniele Ercolani, Giridhar U. Kulkarni, Francesca Rossi, Vincenzo Grillo, Giancarlo Salviati, Fabio Beltram, Lucia Sorba
Published Online: Jul 26 2010 1:20PM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000811

	Smooth or zigzagged sidewalls are formed during the growth of InAs nanowires from Pd catalyst particles on InAs substrates. The smaller Pd particles are liquid during growth and give rise to a sawtooth faceting of the nanowires, whereas the larger particles are solid and lead to the growth of smooth wires.

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Gold microplates

Gold Microplates with Well-Defined Shapes (p NA)
Caixia Kan, Changshun Wang, Hongchen Li, Jingshan Qi, Jiejun Zhu, Zhaosheng Li, Daning Shi
Published Online: Jul 21 2010 10:32AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000600

	Gold microplates with shieldlike, starlike, and other polygonal shapes are obtained in high yields by the polyol process through the introduction of a temperature variation in the early stage of crystal growth.

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Carbon nanotubes

Composite Yarns of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Metallic Electrical Conductivity (p NA)
Lakshman K. Randeniya, Avi Bendavid, Philip J. Martin, Canh-Dung Tran
Published Online: Jul 21 2010 10:32AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000493

	A new technique named self-fueled electrodeposition has been developed to incorporate nanocrystalline metals onto carbon-nanotube (CNT) yarns. The resulting composite yarns have high electrical conductivities and will be useful for certain applications where the use of semiconducting pure CNT yarns (see top image) is limited. The Au-CNT and Cu-CNT composite yarns (see bottom image) synthesized have metal-like electrical conductivities and are mechanically robust.

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Drug delivery

Targeted, Needle-Free Vaccinations in Skin using Multilayered, Densely-Packed Dissolving Microprojection Arrays (p NA)
Anthony P. Raphael, Tarl W. Prow, Michael L. Crichton, Xianfeng Chen, Germain J. P. Fernando, Mark A. F. Kendall
Published Online: Jul 21 2010 10:32AM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000326

	A novel method for the fabrication of densely packed functional microprojections is reported. Using a dispersion membrane during casting facilitates uniform layering of projections on a micrometer scale. Vaccines are successfully delivered to mice, achieving strong immune responses. This is the first reported study on vaccine response using a dissolving microprojection array with an encapsulated vaccine.

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Tumor suppression

Biocompatibility, Biodistribution, and Drug-Delivery Efficiency of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy in Animals (p NA)
Jie Lu, Monty Liong, Zongxi Li, Jeffrey I. Zink, Fuyuhiko Tamanoi
Published Online: Jul 7 2010 2:10PM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000538

	A comprehensive analysis of the biocompatibility, biodistribution, and anticancer drug-delivery efficiency of mesoporous silica nanoparticles in mice with human cancer xenografts is conducted using various methods. Results obtained showed that MSNs are biocompatible, preferentially accumulate in tumors, and effectively deliver drugs to the tumors and suppress tumor growth.

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Corrigendum

Cellular Association and Assembly of a Multistage Delivery System (p NA)
Rita E. Serda, Aaron Mack, Merlyn Pulikkathara, Ana Maria Zaske, Ciro Chiappini, Jean Fakhoury, Douglas Webb, Biana Godin, Jodie L. Conyers, Xue Wu Liu, James A. Bankson, Mauro Ferrari
Published Online: Jul 13 2010 3:20PM
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201001027

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