Colloidal Au@ZnO hybrid nanocrystals with linear and branched shape were synthesized. The number of ZnO domains on the Au seeds can be controlled by the solvent mixture. Imidazole-functionalized Au@ZnO hybrid nanocrystals were soluble in water and exhibited a greatly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to ZnO nanocrystals. The pristine heterodimeric NPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis spectroscopy.

We report herein the unexpected temperature triggered self-assembly of proteins fused to thermally responsive elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) into spherical micelles. Six ELP block copolymers (ELPBC) with different hydrophilic and hydrophobic block lengths were genetically fused to two single domain proteins, thioredoxin (Trx) and a fibronectin type III domain (Fn3) that binds the αvβ3 integrin. The self-assembly of these protein-ELPBC fusions as a function of temperature was investigated by UV spectroscopy, light scattering, and cryo-TEM. Self-assembly of the ELPBC was –unexpectedly- retained upon fusion to the two proteins, resulting in the formation of spherical micelles with a hydrodynamic radius that ranged from 24–37 nm, depending on the protein and ELPBC. Cryo-TEM images confirmed the formation of spherical particles with a size that was consistent with that measured by light scattering. The bioactivity of Fn3 was retained when presented by the ELPBC micelles as indicated by the enhanced uptake of the Fn3-decorated ELPBC micelles in comparison to the unimer by cells that overexpress the αvβ3 integrin. The fusion of single domain proteins to ELPBCs may provide a ubiquitous platform for the multivalent presentation of proteins.

The growth of silver shells on gold nanorods is investigated by in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy using an advanced liquid cell architecture. The design is based on microwells in which the liquid is confined between a thin Si 3 N 4 membrane on one side and a few-layer graphene cap on the other side. A well-defined specimen thickness and an ultraflat cell top allow for the application of high-resolution TEM and the application of analytical TEM techniques on the same sample. The combination of high-resolution data with chemical information is validated by radically new insights into the growth of silver shells on cetrimonium bromide stabilized gold nanorods. It is shown that silver bromide particles already formed in the stock solution play an important role in the exchange of silver ions. The Ag shell growth can be directly correlated with the layer-by-layer dissolution of AgBr nanocrystals, which can be controlled by the electron flux density via distinctly generated chemical species in the solvent. The derived model framework is confirmed by in situ UV−vis absorption spectroscopy evaluating the blue shift in the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance of anisotropic NRs in a complementary batch experiment.

Monodisperse FePt@MnO nano-heteroparticles with different sizes and morphologies were prepared by a seed-mediated nucleation and growth technique. Both size and morphology of the individual domains could be controlled by adjustment of the synthetic parameters. As a consequence, different particle constructs, including dimers, dumbbell-like particles, and flowerlike particles, could be obtained by changing the polarity of the solvent. The FePt@MnO nano-heteroparticles were thoroughly characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. Due to a sufficient lattice match, the MnO nanoparticles (NPs) preferentially grow on the (111) surfaces of the fcc-FePt seeds. Furthermore, the surface spins of the antiferromagnetic MnO domains pin the magnetic moments of the ferromagnetic FePt NPs, which leads to an exchanged biased magnetic hysteresis.

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