Abstract: The present disclosure provides semiconductor-metal composite nanoparticles with optical properties that are superior to those of pure materials for use as contrast agents. The composites include noble metal nanoparticles having a layer of linker molecules being bound to the surface of the noble metal nanoparticle and a layer of dye molecules bound to the layer of linker molecules. The dye molecules are selected such that they form an ordered structure that exhibits a collective absorption band shift, compared to the individual dye molecule, when bound to the noble metal nanoparticle. This structure is encapsulated in a stabilizing coating layer forming a multi-shell structure with properties suitable for biosensing and other detection applications which exhibit enhanced Raman scattering compared to nanoparticles having dye molecules bound thereto not in the ordered structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides semiconductor-metal composite nanoparticles with optical properties that are superior to those of pure materials for use as contrast agents. The composites include noble metal nanoparticles having a layer of linker molecules being bound to the surface of the noble metal nanoparticle and a layer of dye molecules bound to the layer of linker molecules. The dye molecules are selected such that they form an ordered structure that exhibits a collective absorption band shift, compared to the individual dye molecule, when bound to the noble metal nanoparticle. This structure is encapsulated in a stabilizing coating layer forming a multi-shell structure with properties suitable for biosensing and other detection applications which exhibit enhanced Raman scattering compared to nanoparticles having dye molecules bound thereto not in the ordered structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a procedure and an apparatus to obtain the absorption profiles of molecular resonance with ANSOM. The method includes setting a reference field phase to ?=0.5? relative to the near-field field, and reference amplitude A?5|?eff|. The requirement on phase precision is found to be <0.3?. The apparatus includes a phase stabilization mechanism in addition to the ANSOM to maintain high phase precision homodyne phase condition of less than 0.1 rad. This method enables ANSOM performing vibrational spectroscopy at nanoscale spatial resolution.

Abstract: A limonoid composition for the prevention and control of marine ectoparasites on fish is provided herein. Said composition comprises at least one limonoid selected from the group consisting of azadirachtin, salannin, meliantriol, karanjin, and nimbin or is an extract from Neem, Milletia pinnata, or Azadirachta indica. Said composition may be deposited on a polymer which is in the form of a net or cage. Alternatively, said composition may be incorporated into a fish feed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to transfer block copolymers from water immiscible organic phase to aqueous phase using a phase transfer agent. At higher concentrations, micellar networks of the block copolymers were obtained in the aqueous solution that can be coated onto a variety of substrates. Block copolymer films showed very good antifouling properties. The phase transferred block copolymers can be used to synthesize encapsulated nanoparticle aggregates for biodiagnostic imaging applications. The phase transferred block copolymer micelles can be used to encapsulate active compounds. The invention has applications in drug delivery, crop protection, and medical device coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides semiconductor-metal composite nanoparticles with optical properties that are superior to those of pure materials for use as contrast agents. The composites include noble metal nanoparticles having a layer of linker molecules being bound to the surface of the noble metal nanoparticle and a layer of dye molecules bound to the layer of linker molecules. The dye molecules are selected such that they form an ordered structure that exhibits a collective absorption band shift, compared to the individual dye molecule, when bound to the noble metal nanoparticle. This structure is encapsulated in a stabilizing coating layer forming a multi-shell structure with properties suitable for biosensing and other detection applications which exhibit enhanced Raman scattering compared to nanoparticles having dye molecules bound thereto not in the ordered structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a procedure and an apparatus to obtain the absorption profiles of molecular resonance with ANSOM. The method includes setting a reference field phase to ?=0.5? relative to the near-field field, and reference amplitude A?5|?eff|. The requirement on phase precision is found to be <0.3?. The apparatus includes a phase stabilization mechanism in addition to the ANSOM to maintain high phase precision homodyne phase condition of less than 0.1 rad. This method enables ANSOM performing vibrational spectroscopy at nanoscale spatial resolution.

Abstract: There is herein provided a composition comprising azadirachtin, preferably neem oil, and methods of use thereof for inhibiting macrofouling on a polymer in an aquatic environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a procedure to obtain the absorption profiles of molecular resonance with ANSOM. The method includes setting a reference field phase to ?=0.5 ? relative to the near-field field, and reference amplitude A?5|?eff|. The requirement on phase precision is found to be <0.3 ?. This method enables ANSOM performing vibrational spectroscopy at nanoscale spatial resolution.

Abstract: Phospholipid-microvesicle-encapsulated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles and methods for making the encapsulated particles are described. The encapsulated particles can be used in nanomedicine. Four Raman-active species were used. A bilayer was observed by TEM, and the SERS spectrum of each dye species (SERS reporter) was confirmed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to transfer block copolymers from water immiscible organic phase to aqueous phase using a phase transfer agent. At higher concentrations, micellar networks of the block copolymers were obtained in the aqueous solution that can be coated onto a variety of substrates. Block copolymer films showed very good antifouling properties. The phase transferred block copolymers can be used to synthesize encapsulated nanoparticle aggregates for biodiagnostic imaging applications. The phase transferred block copolymer micelles can be used to encapsulate active compounds. The invention has applications in drug delivery, crop protection, and medical device coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides block copolymer films for application to surfaces exposed to marine environments in order to reduce biofouling of surfaces immersed in the marine environment. The present invention provides a method of fabricating block copolymer films using morphology trapping by lower temperature treatment in conjunction with solvent and or temperature annealing. The present invention inhibits the attachment of marine organisms, but it does not kill the organisms nor is it highly toxic. Cross-linked AB diblock or higher block copolymers, where A and B and any additional blocks if present have different hydrophobicity i.e. A is hydrophobic and B is hydrophilic, mixed with a photo-initiator films that preserve their nanosize domains when immersed in water. The block copolymer films inhibit settlement of marine organisms and can be used as marine antifouling coatings.