Stabilization of gold nanoparticle films on glass by thermal embedding.

The poor adhesion of gold nanoparticles (NPs) to glass has been a known obstacle to studies and applications of NP-based systems, such as glass/Au-NP optical devices. Here we present a simple scheme for obtaining stable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) transducers based on Au NP films immobilized on silanized glass and annealed. The procedure includes high-temperature annealing of the Au NP film, leading to partial embedding in the glass substrate and stabilization of the morphology and optical properties.

Engineering thermoresponsive polymeric nanoshells.

This study describes a family of hollow nanoscale constructs able to display a large and reversible change in size, within a narrow temperature interval. These thermoresponsive nanostructures are generated by crosslinking functionalized amphiphilic molecules, such as poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblocks, while constrained to their particular micellar configuration. This contribution focuses on the generation of these supramolecular architectures, by intra-micellarly crosslinking PEO-PPO-PEO dimethacrylate amphiphiles, and investigates their temperature-dependent dimensional behavior.

PEO-PPO-PEO-based poly(ether ester urethane)s as degradable reverse thermo-responsive multiblock copolymers.

Aiming at developing biodegradable thermo-responsive polymers that display enhanced rheological properties, a family of PEO-PPO-PEO based poly(ether ester urethane)s, was developed. The materials were produced following a two-step synthetic pathway. The PEO-PPO-PEO triblocks were first end-capped with LA or CL oligo(ester)s whereby pentablocks were produced.

Introducing lactide-based biodegradable tissue adhesives.

Lactide-based low molecular weight copolymers were synthesized and investigated as tissue adhesives. The oligomers were composed of di or trifunctional central connecting segments and lateral PLA blocks. Copolymers with glass transition temperatures in the 20-25 degrees C range, were found to perform better.

Tailoring lactide/caprolactone co-oligomers as tissue adhesives.

This article introduces novel biocompatible tissue adhesives that do not involve any chemical or biochemical reactions, during their application in vivo. The use of these new adhesives is based exclusively on their temperature-dependent rheological properties. Since biocompatibility and biodegradability are additional crucial attributes of tissue adhesives, the polymers were tailored so that they as well as their degradation products are non-toxic.