Abstract: Methods are provided for aligning carbon nanotubes and for making a composite material comprising aligned carbon nanotubes. The method for aligning carbon nanotubes comprises adsorbing magnetic nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes dispersed in a fluid medium to form a magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite in the fluid medium; and exposing the composite to a magnetic field effective to align the nanotubes in the fluid medium. The method for making a composite material comprising aligned carbon nanotubes comprises (1) adsorbing magnetic nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes to form a magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite; (2) dispersing the magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite in a fluid matrix material to form a mixture; (3) exposing the mixture to a magnetic field effective to align the nanotubes in the mixture; and (4) solidifying the fluid matrix material to form a nanotube/matrix material composite comprising the aligned nanotubes which remain aligned in the absence of said magnetic field.

Abstract: Polymeric nanoencapsulation methods, which combine sonication and nonsolvent temperature induced crystallization, are provided. The steps include (a) providing active agent nanoparticles having an average diameter between about 5 and about 100 nm; (b) treating said active agent nanoparticles (e.g.

Abstract: Microencapsulation methods and products are provided. The method includes forming, at a first temperature, a emulsion which comprises aqueous microdroplets, including the agent (e.g., a magnetic material or drug) and a cross-linkable matrix material (e.g., a protein such as albumin), dispersed in a hydrophobic continuous phase comprising an oil and an oil-soluble surfactant, the first temperature being below the temperature effective to initiate cross-linking of the matrix material, and then heating the emulsion to a temperature and for a time effective to cause the matrix material to self-crosslink, to form microparticles comprising the agent encapsulated by the crosslinked matrix material.

Abstract: Methods are provided for aligning carbon nanotubes and for making a composite material comprising aligned carbon nanotubes. The method for aligning carbon nanotubes comprises adsorbing magnetic nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes dispersed in a fluid medium to form a magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite in the fluid medium; and exposing the composite to a magnetic field effective to align the nanotubes in the fluid medium. The method for making a composite material comprising aligned carbon nanotubes comprises (1) adsorbing magnetic nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes to form a magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite; (2) dispersing the magnetic particle-carbon nanotube composite in a fluid matrix material to form a mixture; (3) exposing the mixture to a magnetic field effective to align the nanotubes in the mixture; and (4) solidifying the fluid matrix material to form a nanotube/matrix material composite comprising the aligned nanotubes which remain aligned in the absence of said magnetic field.

Abstract: Microencapsulation methods and products are provided. The method includes forming, at a first temperature, a emulsion which comprises aqueous microdroplets, including the agent (e.g., a magnetic material or drug) and a cross-linkable matrix material (e.g., a protein such as albumin), dispersed in a hydrophobic continuous phase comprising an oil and an oil-soluble surfactant, the first temperature being below the temperature effective to initiate cross-linking of the matrix material, and then heating the emulsion to a temperature and for a time effective to cause the matrix material to self-cross-link, to form microparticles comprising the agent encapsulated by the cross-linked matrix material.

Abstract: Polymeric nanoencapsulation methods, which combine sonication and nonsolvent temperature induced crystallization, are provided. The steps include (a) providing active agent nanoparticles having an average diameter between about 5 and about 100 nm; (b) treating said active agent nanoparticies (e.g.