Particle Design Via Self-Assembly - I

Particle design and synthesis are regularly carried out on an extremely large scale, both financially and physically. Often, however, the crucial rate-limiting processes can occur at the molecular scale as a result of interfacial, surfactant, polymeric, or colloidal effects. Self-assembly, whether by colloids or surfactants, offers a broad array of methods to control and design particle size, shape, and properties. The formation of "soft" particles by various self-assembly techniques demonstrates the overlap of particle design concepts with biological, medical, and pharmaceutical research. Papers are sought examining the design and production of particles, as well as control of their properties, by self-assembly.