Macromolecular Self-Assembly

Delivers comprehensive coverage of key subjects in self-assembly and nanotechnology, approaching these and related topics with one unified concept. Designed for students and professionals alike, it explores a variety of materials and situations in which the importance of self-assembly nanotechnology is growing tremendously. Provides clear schematic illustrations to represent the mainstream principles behind each topic.

An introduction to the state-of-the-art of the diverse self-assembly systems Self-Assembly: From Surfactants to Nanoparticles provides an effective entry for new researchers into this exciting field while also giving the state of the art assessment of the diverse self-assembling systems for those already engaged in this research. Over the last twenty years, self-assembly has emerged as a distinct science/technology field, going well beyond the classical surfactant and block copolymer molecules, and encompassing much larger and complex molecular, biomolecular and nanoparticle systems. Within its ten chapters, each contributed by pioneers of the respective research topics, the book: Discusses the fundamental physical chemical principles that govern the formation and properties of self-assembled systems Describes important experimental techniques to characterize the properties of self-assembled systems, particularly the nature of molecular organization and structure at the nano, meso or micro scales. Provides the first exhaustive accounting of self-assembly derived from various kinds of biomolecules including peptides, DNA and proteins. Outlines methods of synthesis and functionalization of self-assembled nanoparticles and the further self-assembly of the nanoparticles into one, two or three dimensional materials. Explores numerous potential applications of self-assembled structures including nanomedicine applications of drug delivery, imaging, molecular diagnostics and theranostics, and design of materials to specification such as smart responsive materials and self-healing materials. Highlights the unifying as well as contrasting features of self-assembly, as we move from surfactant molecules to nanoparticles. Written for students and academic and industrial scientists and engineers, by pioneers of the research field, Self-Assembly: From Surfactants to Nanoparticles is a comprehensive resource on diverse self-assembly systems, that is simultaneously introductory as well as the state of the art.

Offering an overview of principles and techniques, this book covers all major categories of self-assembled polymers – properties, processes, and design. Each chapter focuses on morphology, applications, and advanced concepts to illustrate the advantages of polymer self-assembly across industrial and academic research. • Provides an organized, comprehensive overview of polymer self-assembly, its fundamentals, principles, and applications • Includes chapters on block copolymers, amphiphilic polymers, supramolecular polymers, rotaxenes, polymer gels, dendrimers, and small molecules in polymer matrices • Focuses on novel applications, block copolymer assembly to nanotechnology, photonics and metamaterials, molecular machines and artificial muscle, gels that can be applied to polymer science, materials science, and nanotechnology • Examines state-of-the-art concepts, like lithographic patterning and foldaxane • Discusses challenges and future outlook of a popular and emerging field of study

A fundamental resource for understanding and developing effective self-assembly and nanotechnology systems Systematically integrating self-assembly, nanoassembly, and nanofabrication into one easy-to-use source, Self-Assembly and Nanotechnology Systems effectively helps students, professors, and researchers comprehend and develop applicable techniques for use in the field. Through case studies, countless examples, clear questions, and general applications, this book provides experiment-oriented techniques for designing, applying, and characterizing self-assembly and nanotechnology systems. Self-Assembly and Nanotechnology Systems includes: Techniques for identifying assembly building units Practical assembly methods to focus on when developing nanomaterials, nanostructures, nanoproperties, nanofabricated systems, and nanomechanics Algorithmic diagrams in each chapter for a general overview Schematics designed to link assembly principles with actual systems Hands-on lab activities This informative reference also analyzes the diverse origins and structures of assembly building units, segmental analysis, and selection of assembly principles, methods, characterization techniques, and predictive models. Complementing the author's previous conceptually based book on this topic, Self-Assembly and Nanotechnology Systems is a practical guide that grants practitioners not only the skills to properly analyze assembly building units but also how to work with applications to exercise and develop their knowledge of this rapidly advancing scientific field.

A comprehensive and approachable introduction to crystallography – now updated in a valuable new edition The Second Edition of this well-received book continues to offer the most concise, authoritative, and easy-to-follow introduction to the field of crystallography. Dedicated to providing a complete, basic presentation of the subject that does not assume a background in physics or math, the book's content flows logically from basic principles to methods, such as those for solving phase problems, interpretation of Patterson maps and the difference Fourier method, the fundamental theory of diffraction and the properties of crystals, and applications in determining macromolecular structure. This new edition includes a vast amount of carefully updated materials, as well as two completely new chapters on recording and compiling X-ray data and growing crystals of proteins and other macromolecules. Richly illustrated throughout to clarify difficult concepts, this book takes a non-technical approach to crystallography that is ideal for professionals and graduate students in structural biology, biophysics, biochemistry, and molecular biology who are studying the subject for the first time.

The Advances in Chemical Physics series—the cutting edge of research in chemical physics The Advances in Chemical Physics series provides the chemical physics and physical chemistry fields with a forum for critical, authoritative evaluations of advances in every area of the discipline. Filled with cutting-edge research reported in a cohesive manner not found elsewhere in the literature, each volume of the Advances in Chemical Physics series presents contributions from internationally renowned chemists and serves as the perfect supplement to any advanced graduate class devoted to the study of chemical physics. This volume explores: Kinetics and thermodynamics of fluctuation-induced transitions in multistable systems (G. Nicolis and C. Nicolis) Dynamical rare event simulation techniques for equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems (Titus S. van Erp) Confocal depolarized dynamic light scattering (M. Potenza, T. Sanvito, V. Degiorgio, and M. Giglio) The two-step mechanism and the solution-crystal spinodal for nucleation of crystals in solution (Peter G. Vekilov) Experimental studies of two-step nucleation during two-dimensional crystallization of colloidal particles with short-range attraction (John R. Savage, Liquan Pei, and Anthony D. Dinsmore) On the role of metastable intermediate states in the homogeneous nucleation of solids from solution (James F. Lutsko) Effects of protein size on the high-concentration/low-concentration phase transition (Patrick Grosfils) Geometric constraints in the self-assembly of mineral dendrites and platelets (John J. Kozak) What can mesoscopic level in situ observations teach us about kinetics and thermodynamics of protein crystallization? (Mike Sleutel, Dominique Maes, and Alexander Van Driessche) The ability of silica to induce biomimetic crystallization of calcium carbonate (Matthias Kellermeier, Emilio Melero-Garc?a, Werner Kunz, and Juan Manuel Garc?a-Ruiz)

Discover the latest models and methods for robotic microassembly from around the world This book presents and analyzes new and emerging models and methods developed around the world for robotic microassembly, a new and innovative way to produce better microsystems. By exploring everything from the physics of micromanipulation to microassembly to microhandling, it provides the first complete overview and review of this rapidly growing field. Robotic Microassembly is divided into three parts: Part One: Modeling of the Microworld Part Two: Handling Strategies Part Three: Robotic and Microassembly Together, these three parts feature eight chapters contributed by eight different authors. The authors, internationally recognized experts in the field of robotic microassembly, represent research laboratories in Asia, Europe, and North America. As a result, readers get a remarkable perspective on different approaches to robotic microassembly from around the world. Examples provided throughout the chapters help readers better understand how these different approaches work in practice. References at the end of each chapter lead to the primary literature for further investigation of individual topics. Robotic microassembly offers a new, improved way to manufacture high-performance microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Therefore, any professional or student involved in microrobotics, micromechatronics, self-assembly or MEMS will find plenty of novel ideas and methods in this book that set the stage for new approaches to design and build the next generation of MEMS and microproducts.

Summarizes the essential biosynthetic pathways for assembly of metal cofactor sites in functional metalloproteins Metalloprotein Active Site Assembly focuses on the processes that have evolved to orchestrate the assembly of metal cofactor sites in functional metalloproteins. It goes beyond the simple incorporation of single metal ions in a protein framework, and includes metal cluster assembly, metal-cofactor biosynthesis and insertion, and metal-based post-translational modifications of the protein environments that are necessary for function. Several examples of each of these areas have now been identified and studied; the current volume provides the current state-of-the-art understanding of the processes involved. An excellent companion to the earlier book in this series Metals in Cells—which discussed both the positive and negative effects of cellular interactions with metals—this comprehensive book provides a diverse sampling of what is known about metalloprotein active site assembly processes. It covers all major biological transition metal components (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo), as well as the other inorganic components, metal-binding organic cofactors (e.g., heme, siroheme, cobalamin, molybdopterin), and post-translationally modified metal binding sites that make up the patchwork of evolved biological catalytic sites. The book compares and contrasts the biosynthetic assembly of active sites involving all biological metals. This has never been done before since it is a relatively new, fast-developing area of research. Metalloprotein Active Site Assembly is an ideal text for practitioners of inorganic biochemistry who are studying the biosynthetic pathways and gene clusters involved in active site assembly, and for inorganic chemists who want to apply the concepts learned to potential synthetic pathways to active site mimics.

Provides comprehensive knowledge on concepts, theoretical methods and state-of-the-art computational techniques for the simulation of self-assembling systems Looks at the field of self-assembly from a theoretical perspective Highlights the importance of theoretical studies and tailored computer simulations to support the design of new self-assembling materials with useful properties Divided into three parts covering the basic principles of self-assembly, methodology, and emerging topics