We present an extension of the simple-cubic lattice model developed by Jorge et al. [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 14388] of nanoparticle growth in the clear solution synthesis of silicalite-1 (MFI). We have implemented the model on a body-center cubic (bcc) lattice with second-neighbor repulsions, to generate a four-coordinate network that mimics the tetrahedral structure of silica. With this l...

The increasing use of nanoparticles in the pharmaceutical industry is generating concomitant interest in developing nanomaterials that can rapidly penetrate into, and permeate through, biological membranes to facilitate drug delivery and improve the bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Here, we demonstrate that the permeation of thiolated silica nanoparticles through porcine ga...

A small 29 nm monodispersed silica nanoparticle 1a was synthesized as a diarylethene-based reversible fluorescence photoswitch by copolymerizing silane precursors in one-pot including 3a and 4. Reversible photoswitching of nanoparticle 1a was successfully achieved in living cells to show its potential as a highly distinguishable and safe fluorescence probe for cell tracking.

We report the direct coating of a novel antireflective (AR) nanoarray structure of silica nanoparticles on highly flexible polymer substrates by a conventional vacuum coating method using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Globular-shaped silica nanoparticles are found to be self-arranged in a periodic pattern on subwavelength scales without the use of artificial assemblies that typical...

An NIR-responsive mesoporous silica coated upconverting nanoparticle (UCNP) conjugate is developed for controllable drug delivery and fluorescence imaging in living cells. In this work, antitumor drug doxorubicin (Dox) molecules are encapsulated within cross-linked photocaged mesoporous silica coated UCNPs. Upon 980 nm light irradiation, Dox could be selectively released through the photocleava...

Iron(III)-doped silica nanoshells are shown to possess an in vitro cell-receptor mediated targeting functionality for endocytosis. Compared to plain silica nanoparticles, iron enriched ones are shown to be target-specific, a property that makes them potentially better vehicles for applications, such as drug delivery and tumor imaging, by making them more selective and thereby reducing the nanop...

We report a simple approach to the fabrication of hierarchical nanoparticle arrays and film patterns using a novel combination of colloidal lithography (CL), two-step self-assembly, and reactive-ion etching (RIE). In this approach, a uniform nanoparticle film (∼15-50 nm particle diameter) is first deposited on a substrate. Then, larger (several hundred to thousands of nanometers diameter) micro...

Magnetic silica nanoparticle functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MS-MWNTs) were prepared, characterized and used for the convenient, rapid and efficient separation of trace aromatic compounds.

Fluorescent silica nanoparticles deposited with highly monodisperse gold nanoparticles (1-2 nm) were synthesized via the W/O method and intensive ultrasound irradiation. A large surface area of gold-doped fluorescent silica nanoparticle serves as a platform to immobilize a specific binding protein for biomolecules interaction in bioimaging applications.

A mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based intracellular cysteine delivery system that could be induced and regulated by cell-produced natural antioxidants was synthesized.