Xianmao Lu and his team have coupled plasmonic silver nanoparticles to magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and wrapped both in a thermoresponsive polymer – poly(n-isopropylacrylamide).

When illuminated by sunlight the silver nanoparticles absorb the light and convert it to heat.  The increase in temperature causes the polymer wrapping to collapse and reduces steric repulsion between the nanoparticle dimers leading to clustering.

Sunlight induced clustering of Magnetic-Plasmonic Heterodimers.

This clustering enhances the magnetic separation of the very small dimers from the solution (the nanoparticles are less than 9 nm each).  When you’ve caught the nanoparticles and are done with them, you can turn the lights off and they will re-disperse.

Don’t worry if you live in a cloudy part of the world, you can use a solar simulator to induce the clustering.  It would probably be easier to turn off than the sun, too.

To read the details, check out this HOT Chem Comm article in full:
Thermoresponsive Nanoparticles + Plasmonic Nanoparticles = Photoresponsive Heterodimers: Facile Synthesis and Sunlight-Induced Reversible Clustering
Hui Han, Jim Yang Lee and Xianmao Lu
Chem. Commun., 2013, 49, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/C3CC42273A

                  

Scientists in Canada have made a super-strong cell membrane adhesive and used it to stick red blood cells together. The polymer, based on the phospholipid head group phosphatidyl choline, could be used to secure cells in particular positions for tissue engineering and wound closure.

Don Brooks, from the Centre for Blood Research at the University of British Columbia, who led the study, says inspiration for the work came after trying to understand the chemistry of cell membranes. ‘Phosphatidyl choline [PC] is found in every cell membrane, except for some primitive bacteria, so we wondered what would happen if we were to turn the molecule around to choline phosphate [CP]? Would you get an adhesive effect because the positive and negative charges are now inverted?’ This proved to be the case, and the team demonstrated that branched polyglycerols containing CP bound to a variety of cell membranes

Read the full article in Chemistry World

Read the original journal article in ChemComm:
ATRP synthesis of poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl choline phosphate): a multivalent universal biomembrane adhesive
Xifei Yu, Xiaoqiang Yang, Sonja Horte, Jayachandran N. Kizhakkedathu and Donald E. Brooks 
Chem. Commun., 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CC41895B, Communication

                  

Nanocups of anatase TiO2 coated with Au nanoparticles are efficient photocatalysts, as reported in a recent ChemComm article by Chemical Science and Chem Soc Rev Advisory Board member Jinlong Gong and  his group at Tianjin University, China.

This new shape promises to increase reactive surface area by exposing the normally inaccessible surface of hollow spheres.  Compared to TiO2 hollow spheres, TiO2 nanocup particles increase the rate of the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in the visible light region by 46%.

This performance and the ease of nanocup synthesis are reasons to promote further research.  Thus, we may expect nanocups made from other metal oxides and inorganic materials to be incorporated into solar, photochemical, and catalytic applications in the future.

In addition, the ability of nanocups to confine small amounts of reactants may find utility in nanofluidic devices.

Gong et al.’s work has recently been highlighted as part of a C&EN article on novel nanostructures.

Read this ChemComm article in full:

Mesoporous anatase TiO₂ nanocups with plasmonic metal decoration for highly active visible-light photocatalysis

Jianwei Lu, Peng Zhang, Ang Li, Fengli Su, Tuo Wang, Yuan Liu and Jinlong Gong
Chem. Commun., 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CC42029A

Geoff Nelson is a guest web-writer for ChemComm.  He currently works as a post-doctoral research associate in Dr David Payne’s research group in the Department of Materials at Imperial College, London.  Geoff’s current research concerns the synthesis and characterization of post-transition metal oxides for use in the energy sector.  His other research interests include carbon-based materials, biophysical chemistry, and surface science.

                  

Free to access until 16th June 2013

Free to access until 16th June 2013

Free to access until 16th June 2013

Free to access until 16th June 2013

Free to access until 16th June 2013

Free to access until 2nd June 2013

Free to access until 2nd June 2013

Free to access until 2nd June 2013

                  

Jonathan Steed accepts submissions to ChemComm in the area of supramolecular chemistry.  His research interests are in anion sensing, soft materials chemistry, particularly supramolecular gels, crystal growth, structural chemistry and crystal engineering.

Submit your best new, urgent, original research to Jonathan Steed’s Editorial Office.

                  

Polly Arnold also sits on the Chemical Science Advisory Board, together with Ben Feringa (3:10) and Seong Keun Kim (3:52).

Also appearing in the video is Chem Soc Rev Editorial Board member Zijian Guo (2:58).

Submit your best work to ChemComm, Chem Sci, and Chem Soc Rev!   

Find out more about RSC Publishing: http://rsc.li/11ki0Uo

                  

Louise Berben

On behalf of the ChemComm Editorial Board we are delighted to announce the winners of the ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship 2013.

Marina Kuimova

This year we received a high number of excellent nominations and therefore the Editorial Board have decided to award two Emerging Investigator Lectureships in 2013. The winners are Professor Louise A. Berben (University of California Davis, USA) and Dr Marina Kuimova (Imperial College London).

This annual lectureship recognises an emerging scientist in the early stages of their independent academic career.

The Editorial Board commended Louise’s contributions to the field of synthetic and physical inorganic chemistry, and Marina was awarded the lectureship for her excellent work within biophysical chemistry. Further details of the two Lectureships, including lecture locations, will be announced soon.

To find out more about the winners’ research, read some of their latest articles in ChemComm:

Redox active aluminium(III) complexes convert CO₂ into MgCO₃ or CaCO₃ in a synthetic cycle using Mg or Ca metal
Thomas W. Myers and Louise A. Berben
Chem. Commun., 2013, DOI: 10.1039/C2CC37208H

Simple routes to bulky silyl-substituted acetylide ligands and examples of V(III), Fe(II), and Mn(II) complexes
Gereon M. Yee, Kristin Kowolik, Shuhei Manabe, James C. Fettinger and Louise A. Berben
Chem. Commun., 2011,47, 11680-11682, DOI: 10.1039/C1CC14758G

Reactive oxygen species in photochemistry of the red fluorescent protein “Killer Red”
Russell B. Vegh, Kyril M. Solntsev, Marina K. Kuimova, Soohee Cho, Yue Liang, Bernard L. W. Loo, Laren M. Tolbert and Andreas S. Bommarius
Chem. Commun., 2011,47, 4887-4889, DOI: 10.1039/C0CC05713D

Also of interest: You can now browse the 2013 Emerging Investigators Issue – which features research from outstanding up-and-coming scientists

                  

Read all thirteen Viewpoints for FREE till 13th May 2013!

                  

Tomoki Ogoshi will first present his lecture, entitled “Pillararenes: Easy-to-make and versatile receptors for supramolecular chemistry,” at the 8th International Symposium on Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry (8-ISMSC) in Crystal City, Virginia, USA from 7-11 July 2013.

Later in the year, Tomoki Ogoshi will speak at the University of Texas at Austin (20 Sept) where he will be hosted by ChemComm Associate Editor Professor Jonathan Sessler.  He will then travel to San Diego, CA, to present his talk at the Scripps Research Institute (23 Sept), hosted by Professor Julius Rebek, Jr.

Register online for the 8-ISMSC between now and 1 July to catch Professor Ogoshi’s first award lecture this summer– reduced fees for students and post-docs are available!

                  

This free one-day event will comprise of stimulating lectures reflecting the academic and industrial breadth of supramolecular chemistry, delivered by RSC Prize and Award winners and leaders in the field.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Jerry Atwood, University of Missouri-Columbia – Winner of the 2012 RSC Supramolecular Award
• John Callan, University of Ulster
• Chris Chang, University of California, Berkeley – Winner of the 2012 RSC Chemistry of Transition Metals Award
• Sylvia Draper, Trinity College Dublin
• Phil Gale, University of Southampton – ChemComm sponsored lecture
• David Leigh, University of Manchester - ChemComm sponsored lecture
• Donal O’Shea, University College Dublin
• Susan Quinn, University College Dublin
• Eoin Scanlon, Trinity College Dublin
• Jonathan Steed, Durham University - ChemComm sponsored lecture

We hope you and your colleagues will be able to attend the ChemComm-RSC Prizes and Awards Symposium. For further information about this event and to register, please visit the dedicated webpage.