A simple scalable method to fabricate luminescent monodisperse 200 nm europium doped hollow TiO(2) nanoshell particles is reported. Fluorophore reporter, Eu(3+) ions, are incorporated directly in the NS matrix, leaving the surface free for functionalization and the core free for payload encapsulation. Amine functionalized polystyrene beads were used as templates, and the porous walls of europiu...

The surface plasmon resonances of silver nanoshell particles are studied by Green's function. The nanoshell system of plasmon resonances results from the coupling of the inner and outer shell surface plasmon. The shift of the nanoshell plasmon resonances wavelength is plotted against with different dielectric environments, several different dielectric cores, the ratio of the inner and outer rad...

The optical properties of one-dimensional arrays of metal nanoshell dimers are studied systematically using the T-matrix method based on Mie theory, within the context of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). It is shown that the local electromagnetic enhancement can be as high as approximately 4.5 x 10(13) for nanoshell dimer arrays with optimal geometry, and sensitive tunability in the re...

Layer-by-Layer (LbL) stepwise self-assembly of the polyelectrolytes poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(styrenesulfonate) was used to create a macromolecular nanoshell around drug nanoparticles (approximately 150 nm in diameter). Dexamethasone, a steroid often used in conjugation with chemotherapy, was chosen as a model drug and was formulated into nanoparticles using a modified solvent-eva...

In this work, we focused on the label-free detection of simple protein binding using near-infrared light-responsive plasmonic nanoshell arrays with a controlled interparticle distance. The nanoshell arrays were fabricated by a combination of colloidal self-assembly and subsequent isotropic helium plasma etching under atmospheric pressure. The diameter, interparticle distance, and shape of nanos...

Nanoshell-enhanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel technique with the potential for molecular imaging and improved disease detection. However, optimization of this approach will require a quantitative understanding of the influence of nanoshell parameters on detected OCT signals. In this study, OCT was performed at 1310 nm in water and turbid tissue-simulating phantoms to which na...

In this study, high resolution backward-mode photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) is used to noninvasively image progressive extravasation and accumulation of nanoshells within a solid tumor in vivo. PAM takes advantage of the strong near-infrared absorption of nanoshells and their extravasation tendency from leaky tumor vasculatures for imaging. Subcutaneous tumors are grown on immunocompetent BALB/...

Herein we report a new design for acoustic nanoswimmers, making use of a nanoshell geometry that was synthesized using a sphere template process. Such shell-shaped nanomotors display highly efficient acoustic propulsion on the nanoscale by converting energy from the ambient acoustic field into motion. The propulsion mechanism of the nanoshell motors relies on acoustic streaming stress over the ...

A 3-dimensional rippled nanoshell structure (a hollow pillar with wriggly sidewall morphology) is demonstrated for superhydrophobicity. As a control group, a straight nanoshell structure without a rippled shape was also prepared. The rippled structure showed improved superhydrophobicity with a large contact angle and a small sliding angle compared to the straight nanoshell structure. These enha...

The problem of Förster resonance energy transfer FRET between two molecules in the vicinity of a metallic nanoparticle such as a nanoshell is studied within a phenomenological model which takes into account the nonlocal optical response of the metal. This model allows for arbitrary locations and orientations of the two molecular dipoles with respect to the metal particle which can be of ultrasm...