Abstract: An adsorption method includes the step of adsorbing hybrid particles from a colloidal dispersion of such particles at an interface between the dispersion and a second phase, said hybrid particles comprising: (a) a nanoscale inorganic core having an outer surface, and (b) an organic layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the inorganic core and comprising one or more phosphonates according to structure (I): wherein: R1 and R2 are each independently H, or a (C1-C20)hydrocarbon group, R3 is a divalent (C1-C20)hydrocarbon group, R4 and R5 are each independently H or (C1-C2)alkyl, provided that R4 differs from R5, R6 is H or a (C1-C30)hydrocarbon group, m and n are each independently integers of from 0 to about 200, provided that the sum of m+n is at least 1.

Abstract: A co-assembly method includes, in an aqueous polyelectrolyte composition comprising: (a) a first polyelectrolyte dispersed in the composition and having a net electric charge of a first polarity, (b)a second polyelectrolyte dispersed in the composition and having a net electric charge of a second polarity, wherein the second polarity is opposite the first polarity, and (c)an electrolyte dissolved in the composition in a concentration effective to prevent co-assembly of the polyelectrolytes, the step of allowing co-assembly of the polyelectrolytes by: (1) decreasing the concentration of the electrolyte, or (2) forming an interface between the aqueous polyelectrolyte composition and a surface of a solid substrate or of a second liquid phase, wherein the surface has an affinity for at least one of the polyelectrolytes, or (3) decreasing the concentration of the electrolyte and forming such an interface.

Abstract: A surface modified substrate includes a substrate having a surface, a layer of nanoscale inorganic oxide particles disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate, said layer of nanoscale inorganic oxide particles comprising sites bearing an electric charge of a first polarity, and a monolayer of a polymer disposed on a least a portion of the layer of nanoscale inorganic oxide particles, said monolayer of polymer comprising sites bearing an electric charge of a second polarity, wherein the second polarity is the opposite of the first polarity.

Abstract: An adsorption method includes the step of adsorbing hybrid particles from a colloidal dispersion of such particles at an interface between the dispersion and a second phase, said hybrid particles comprising: (a) a nanoscale inorganic core having an outer surface, and (b) an organic layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the inorganic core and comprising one or more phosphonates according to structure (I): wherein: R1 and R2 are each independently H, or a (C1-C20)hydrocarbon group, R3 is a divalent (C1-C20)hydrocarbon group, R4 and R5 are each independently H or (C1-C2)alkyl, provided that R4 differs from R5, R6 is H or a (C1-C30)hydrocarbon group, m and n are each independently integers of from 0 to about 200, provided that the sum of m+n is at least 1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of an aqueous dispersion of coacervates having a core-shell structure, the core (a) being an inorganic particle being anionic or cationic and the shell (b) being a copolymer wherein said copolymer comprises at least two parts, A and B, part A being cationic if particle (a) is anionic, and anionic if particle (a) is cationic, and part B being neutral in pH conditions of said dispersion. More particularly, the invention is directed to treating compositions comprising that aqueous dispersion of coacervates delivering antifouling, water sheeting, antisoiling, anti-adhesion, adhesion, anti-deposition, and/or anti-UV properties onto all kinds of surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying agents capable of affecting the expression, posttranslational modification, and/or an activity of TRB3, for example, in adipose tissue and/or adipocytes. Such agents are useful, for example, to mobilize fat stores and as prospective obesity therapeutics.