Volume 2, Issue 1 - Special issue: First Anniversary; Issue editor: Rongchao Jin

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No abstract available.

The choice of stabilizer and the stabilizer-to-precursor ions molar ratio during metal nanoparticle synthesis are important for controlling the shape, size, and dispersion stability of the nanoparticles. However, the active sites on the nanoparticles surfaces may be blocked by the stabilizing agents used, resulting in a less-than-effective utilization of the surfaces. In this review, various surfactant-free solution-based methods of synthesizing metal nanoparticles are described, along with the applications of such nanoparticles in catalysis and sensing. “Surfactant-free” synthesis does not imply truly bare metal nanoparticles synthesis but implies one where the metal nanoparticles are prepared in the absence of additional stabilizing agents such as thiolate and phosphine compounds, surfactants, and polymers. These metal nanoparticles are stabilized by the solvents or the simple ions of the reducing agents or low-molecular-weight salts used. Surfactant-free synthesis of metal nanoparticles via photochemical-, ultrasonochemical-, and laser ablation-mediated synthesis methods is also described. Because of the effective utilization of their surfaces, metal nanoparticles prepared without surfactants, polymers, templates, or seeds are expected to exhibit high performance when used in catalysis (synthetic catalysis and electrocatalysis) and sensing (surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)), surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS)).

This review selectively describes the recent progress in the interactions of proteins (enzymes) and short-chain peptides with graphene and graphene oxide (GO). Particularly, the advances of the immobilization mechanisms of enzymes on graphene and GO, the catalytic properties of the immobilized enzymes, and their applications are summarized in detail. The interfacings of the peptides with graphene and GO, the as assembled conjugates, and their potential applications are discussed briefly. The possible ongoing development for the assembly of conjugates of graphene and GO with proteins and peptides in a controlled manner is speculated upon.

Owing to their peculiar physical and chemical properties, carbon nanotubes are intensively studied for many different applications, including those in the biomedical field. Carbon nanotubes are electrically conductive, elastic but mechanically resistant and these features, among others, have made them an ideal material for therapeutic applications at the neural tissue interface. The major recent advances in the study of carbon nanotube-based materials aimed at nerve tissue regeneration and functional recovery are reviewed here.

Regenerative medicine is the creation of a tissue or organ with normal structures and functions to replace the lost or impaired ones via biological modulation and tissue engineering. Indeed, many researchers have focused on exploring new techniques or approaches in this field. In recent years, numerous nanotechnologies have been incorporated into the field of regenerative medicine, aiming to replace tissues. The application of nanotechnology is important as many nanomaterials exhibit novel biological properties in the modulation of cellular events. The two main directions in this field are to provide biologically compatible scaffolds as an optimal environment for cell migration and proliferation; as well as to attempt to induce stem cell recruitment and differentiation. Thus, this review will focus on these two aspects, briefly describing the clinical applications.

A review of significant investigations reported on simulating the nucleation and growth processes of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using different modeling techniques is presented here. Special emphasis is given to the chemical vapor deposition method, being the cheapest and most versatile of the fabrication methods. The modeling methods involve the conventional computational fluid dynamics approaches as well as discrete computation techniques. Some in-house investigations utilizing chemical kinetic modeling and discrete computations to predict the growth of CNTs using the chemical vapor deposition method are also discussed. The modeling and simulation techniques reviewed here are expected to assist in the design of chirality-specific single-walled CNT synthesis systems.

nanoHUB.org is arguably one of the most successful science gateways funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). It is the cyberinfrastructure that supports the Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN), currently serving over 240,000 users annually in 172 countries worldwide. It features a range of resources including seminars, online courses, short courses, full-fledged tool-powered curricula, and over 260 online simulations and modeling tools. nanoHUB functions as a scientific cloud where users cannot only design and run their tools but also provide a worldwide audience access to these tools with no installation or minimal infrastructural requirements on the users’ part.

No abstract available.