Concurrent self-assembly of amphiphiles into nanoarchitectures with increasing complexity. Issue 3 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Yijing; Liu, Ben; Nie, Zhihong
• Is Part Of: Nano today. Volume 10:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 278
• Page End: 300
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Self-assembly -- Architectures -- Amphiphiles -- Nanoparticles -- Lipids -- Polymers; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanosciences -- Périodiques; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2015.04.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-0132

Abstract

Graphical abstract: This review article highlights recent advances in the concurrent self-assembly in which multiple building blocks are involved and coordinated to form nanostructures that are otherwise not easy to achieve by assembly of single components. Highlights: Concurrent self-assembly produces discrete architectures with increasing complexity. Challenges remain at this frontier of concurrent self-assembly. Multiple amphiphiles interact competitively or cooperatively during self-assembly. The integration of multiple components leads to materials with new properties. Summary: The design of nanostructures with increasing complexity and new functionality has garnered significant interest in recent years because of the potential applications ranging from biomedicine, tissue engineering to energy and optoelectronics. Concurrent self-assembly of multiple molecular and/or colloidal amphiphiles has emerged as an important strategy for constructing novel nanomaterials with desired architectures and properties. This review article provides an overview of recent advances in the design, synthesis and assembly behaviors of two or more amphiphiles with competitive or cooperative interactions. We highlight recent contributions on developing strategies of assembling multiple amphiphiles of lipids (or surfactants), block copolymers, and/or inorganic nanoparticles. We briefly outline our perspectives on concurrent assembly, and discuss challenges facing the field from the aspects of theories, experiments, and applications.