Tuneable 2D self-assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles at liquid|liquid interfaces.

Understanding the structure and assembly of nanoparticles at liquid|liquid interfaces is paramount to their integration into devices for sensing, catalysis, electronics and optics. However, many difficulties arise when attempting to resolve the structure of such interfacial assemblies. In this article we use a combination of X-ray diffraction and optical reflectance to determine the structural arrangement and plasmon coupling between 12.

Insights into the role of polymer-surfactant complexes in drug solubilisation/stabilisation during drug release from solid dispersions.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of polymer-surfactant interactions in drug solubilisation/stabilisation during the dissolution of spray-dried solid dispersions and their potential impact on in vivo drug solubilisation and absorption.

Methods: Dissolution/precipitation tests were performed on spray-dried HPMC-Etravirine solid dispersions to demonstrate the impact of different surfactants on the in vitro performance of the solid dispersions. Interactions between HPMC and bio-relevant and model anionic surfactants (bile salts and SDS respectively) were further characterised using surface tension measurements, fluorescence spectroscopy, DLS and SANS.

Electrochemically induced morphology and volume changes in surface-grafted poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) monolayers.

Poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilanes), composed of alternating ferrocene and dimethylsilane units in their main chain and featuring a thiol end group, were self-assembled to redox-active monolayers on gold. Electrochemical atomic force microscopy was employed to study the morphology of the monolayers as a function of the applied potential in situ. Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements, performed under electrochemical control, indicated thickness changes of up to 15% upon oxidizing and reducing the surface-grafted polymers.