Nanotechnology

Researchers at University of Rochester target science

  2008 NOV 24 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to a study from the United States, "This paper describes the use of methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) silane (MPEG-sil) as a linker molecule for the synthesis of silica-coated nanoparticles by the Stober method. While short alkane chain-based siloxanes including (acryloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane and 3-methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane are popular molecules used in surface modification, they are not efficient for the silica coating of nanoparticles synthesized from organic solvents containing long carbon chain carboxylic acids or amines as capping agents."

  "Here, we report the utilization of MPEG-sil to bridge this gap. Our approach is based on a two-phase system, in which ligand exchange takes place in a hydrophobic environment and the surface modification with silica is conducted in an ethanol-water mixture. Our results show that this two-phased approach was effective to coat monodisperse Fe2O3 nanoparticles capped with oleic acid and Ag nanoparticles capped with oleylamine with uniform SiO2 shells. The process was also demonstrated for double-shell nanostructures to produce SiO2-coated Pt@Fe2O3 core-shell nanoparticles," wrote R. Shen and colleagues, University of Rochester.

  The researchers concluded: "The results described in this work represent a new approach for the surface modification with silica coating of monodisperse nanoparticles synthesized from nonhydrolytic solutions and can potentially have a broad ramification in the development of water-dispersible nanoparticles for biological applications."

  Shen and colleagues published the results of their research in Langmuir (Silane-based poly(Ethylene glycol) as a primer for surface modification of nonhydrolytically synthesized nanoparticles using the Stober method. Langmuir, 2008;24(19):11189-11195).

  For additional information, contact H. Yang, University of Rochester, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Gavett Hall 206, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.

  The publisher of the journal Langmuir can be contacted at: American Chemical Society, 1155 16th St., NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA.

  Keywords: Emerging Technologies, Nanoparticle, Nanostructural, Nanostructure, Nanostructures, Nanotech, Nanotechnology, University of Rochester.

  This article was prepared by VerticalNews Nanotechnology editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, VerticalNews Nanotechnology via VerticalNews.com.