Nanoparticles of CdTe were found to spontaneously reorganize into crystalline nanowires upon controlled removal of the protective shell of organic stabilizer. The intermediate step in the nanowire formation was found to be pearl-necklace aggregates. Strong dipole-dipole interaction is believed to be the driving force of nanoparticle self-organization. The linear aggregates subsequently recrystallized into nanowires whose diameter was determined by the diameter of the nanoparticles. The produced nanowires have high aspect ratio, uniformity, and optical activity. These findings demonstrate the collective behavior of nanoparticles as well as a convenient, simple technique for production of one-dimensional semiconductor colloids suitable for subsequent processing into quantum-confined superstructures, materials, and devices.

The design of advanced, nanostructured materials at the molecular level is of tremendous interest for the scientific and engineering communities because of the broad application of these materials in the biomedical field. Among the available techniques, the layer‐by‐layer assembly method introduced by Decher and co‐workers in 1992 has attracted extensive attention because it possesses extraordinary advantages for biomedical applications: ease of preparation, versatility, capability of incorporating high loadings of different types of biomolecules in the films, fine control over the materials' structure, and robustness of the products under ambient and physiological conditions. In this context, a systematic review of current research on biomedical applications of layer‐by‐layer assembly is presented. The structure and bioactivity of biomolecules in thin films fabricated by layer‐by‐layer assembly are introduced. The applications of layer‐by‐layer assembly in biomimetics, biosensors, drug delivery, protein and cell adhesion, mediation of cellular functions, and implantable materials are addressed. Future developments in the field of biomedical applications of layer‐by‐layer assembly are also discussed.

In their physical dimensions, surface chemistry, and degree of anisotropic interactions in solution, CdTe nanoparticles are similar to proteins. We experimentally observed their spontaneous, template-free organization into free-floating particulate sheets, which resemble the assembly of surface layer (S-layer) proteins. Computer simulation and concurrent experiments demonstrated that the dipole moment, small positive charge, and directional hydrophobic attraction are the driving forces for the self-organization process. The data presented here highlight the analogy of the solution behavior of the two vastly different classes of chemical structures.

Nanoparticle (NP) assemblies are of considerable interest for both fundamental research and applications, since they provide direct bridges between nanometer‐scale objects and the macroscale world. Unlike two‐dimensional or three‐dimensional NP assemblies, which have been extensively studied and reviewed, reports on one‐dimensional (1D) NP assemblies are rather rare, even though these assemblies are likely to play critical roles in the improvement of the efficiencies of various electronic, optoelectronic, magnetic, and other devices based on single NPs or their composites. Additionally, 1D assemblies of NPs, i.e., chains, can significantly help in the understanding of a number of biological processes and fundamental quantum mechanics of nanometer‐scale systems. The difficulties are very evident when one wants to realize anisotropic 1D assemblies from presumably isotropic, zero‐dimensional NPs. In this context, the authors present a systemic review of current research on 1D NP assemblies. Their preparation methods are classified and novel characteristics of NP chains, such as collective properties and directional transfer of photons, electrons, spins, etc., are elucidated. Current problems underlying the fundamental research and practical applications of 1D NP assemblies are also addressed.

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