Short commentary

, Volume: 11( 9)

Natural Target for Nanoscale Compounds

*Correspondence:

Nissy Jones Department of analytical chemistry, university of cologne ,Germany, Tel: +93314852471; E-Mail: jone12@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction

Complex structures are the hallmark of natural systems, which are achieved by grouping them with bone scales of various lengths, and with their amazing combination of strength and durability, showing order in at least nine different levels, from molecule to top. Scientists have long been interested in mimicking the biological organization of materials to create unique products with similar characteristics. However, although chemists have become experts in molecular control, it has become increasingly difficult to achieve the same level of control over nanoscale, just one level up. In particular, high-resolution anisotropic structures are a natural target for nanoscale compounds because they are ubiquitous in biology (e.g. microtubules, muscle filaments) and have been shown to have unique properties in a variety of applications such as photography and drug delivery. Suitable building blocks of synthetic composites from the ground up for anisotropic nanostructures are easily accessible (i.e. cheap and uncontrolled syntheses), allow for precise chemical structure (so that materials can be adapted for various uses) and allow for better control of nanoparticle size. (allows for higher order blends controlled with larger length scales). However, combining all three needs has proved difficult.

DNA nanotechnology allows well-defined anisotropic nanostructures to be built with a high degree of accuracy, but concerns remain about the scalability and cost-effectiveness of this method (despite recent advances). Inanimate nanoparticles are easily accessible, and high aspect ratio structures can be produced, but limited chemical variations are possible. In this context, synthetic polymer building blocks are highly promising because their integration is cheap and analytical, and the development of polymerization control techniques has allowed precise flexibility of the length, shape and chemical composition of polymer chains.

However, although the integration of polymers into a solution provides a superficial access to nanoscale materials, controlling the process of forming very strong nanoparticles with well-defined sizes has proven to be extremely challenging. This is because conventional methods rely on applying differences in the stability of particles of different shapes, which are insignificant between high aspect ratio structures of varying lengths. Although there is a large body of work that demonstrates the formation of anisotropic polymer nanostructures, and has caused fluctuations between different shapes, it is still a challenge to build stable systems with good nanoparticle size control. For example, it is possible to produce pure phases of nanoparticles such as worm using polymerization-induced self-assembly, but the products are dispersed mostly with little control over the length and width. Seed-planted growth method avoids problems, but is limited in some ways. In seed growth process, the anisotropic nanoparticle seeds are fed with polymer unimers in solution and 1-dimensional (1D) growth is driven by the formation of cohesive connections between unimers and exposed seed ends.

Under ideal conditions, this allows for the growth of long, cylinder particles with a length determined by the amount of additional unimer. However, seed growth to date has been proven to be limited to a small number of polymers and depends on the establishment of the same population and anatotropic seed particles, which can be a major challenge.

Acknowledgemnt

None

Conflict of Interest

None