ABSTRACTWe have developed a highly modular electrostatically-mediated approach to colloid-colloid and polymer-colloid networks using ‘building block’ and ‘bricks and mortar’ self-assembly methodologies, respectively. The former approach involved functionalization of one type of nanoparticle building block with a primary amine and a counterpart building block with a carboxylic acid derivative. After combining these two systems, acid-base chemistry followed by immediate charge-pairing resulted in the spontaneous formation of electrostatically-bound mixed-nanoparticle constructs. The shape and size of these ensembles were controlled via variation of particle size and stoichiometries. In the ‘bricks and mortar’ approach, a functionalized polymer is combined with complementary nanoparticles to provide mixed polymer-nanoparticle networked structures. A notable feature is the inherent porosity resulting from the electrostatic assembly. The shape and size of these ensembles were controlled via variation of particle size, stoichiometries and the order in which they were added.
Clustering of Protein Structural Fragments Reveals Modular Building Block Approach of Nature
