Protein nanofibrils offer advantages over other nanostructures due to the ease in their self-assembly and the versatility of surface chemistry available. Yet, an efficient and general methodology for their post-assembly functionalization remains a significant challenge. We introduce a generic approach, based on biotinylation and thiolation, for the multi-functionalization of protein nanofibrils...

Inspired by nature's ability to fabricate supramolecular nanostructures from the bottom-up, materials scientist have become increasingly interested in the use of biomolecules like DNA, peptides, or proteins as templates for the creation of novel nanostructures and nanomaterials. Although the advantages of self-assembling biomolecular structures clearly lie in their chemical diversity, spatial c...

Nature's most spectacular colours originate in integumentary tissue architectures that scatter light via nanoscale modulations of the refractive index. The most intricate biophotonic nanostructures are three-dimensional crystals with opal, single diamond or single gyroid lattices. Despite intense interest in their optical and structural properties, the evolution of such nanostructures is poorly...

bottom-up approaches have emerged as promising alternatives for generation of organized nanostructures and electronic components. [ 4 ] Bottom-up techniques generally rely upon molecular self-assembly phenomena to produce defi ned structures that could be practically utilized. [ 5 , 6 ] Here, we describe a new bottom-up approach for construction of thin-fi lm TCEs through self-assembly of alkyl...

An efficient and facile size- and shape-selective separation of gold nanorod (GNR) solutions is developed using a fractionated precipitation strategy. This convenient method has the benefit of eliminating nanoparticulate side products that can substantially deteriorate the quality of self-assembled nanostructures. The fabrication of advanced plasmonic metamaterials crucially depends on the capa...

A flexible strategy for the preparation of nanostructures of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) through DNA directed assembly has been proposed. This strategy would greatly enhance the stability, precision and flexibility in the construction of DNA-base structural and functional devices, and promote the development of DNA nanotechnology.

We demonstrate a universal approach to assemble gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) into ordered robust nanostructures. Colloidal AuNPs are partially coated by thiol-containing ligands and then destabilised into anisotropic superstructures. In situ polymerization of the surface attached ligands produces enveloped nanoparticle networks with retained nanoplasmonic properties and enhanced stability.

Two {110}-faceted gold nanostructures--rhombic dodecahedra and obtuse triangular bipyramids--have been synthesized via a Ag-assisted, seed-mediated growth method. The combination of a Cl(-)-containing surfactant with a low concentration of Ag(+) plays a role in the stabilization of the {110} facets. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported synthesis of a {110}-faceted bipyramid ...

A fully biocompatible plasmonic quasi-3D nanostructure is demonstrated by a simple and reliable fabrication method using strong adhesion between gold and silk fibroin. The quasi-3D nature gives rise to complex photonic responses in reflectance that are prospectively useful in bio/chemical sensing applications. Laser interference lithography is utilized to fabricate large-area plasmonic nanostru...

Plasmonic photocatalytic nanostructures have been fabricated under mild conditions (room temperature aqueous solution) using genetically engineered bacteriophage P22 virus-like particles (VLP) as a nano-platform. The photodegradation of methylene blue by CdS photocatalyst confined inside VLP can be significantly enhanced by the controlled deposition of gold nanoparticles on the outer shell of V...