Abstract: Disclosed are fibers that include a composite of at least three different materials, where the at least three different materials include a conductor, an insulator, and a non-centrosymmetric material, and where each material is disposed in one or more different cross-sectional regions of the fiber, with each region extending along a common length of the fiber.

Abstract: Amine-passivated gold nanoparticles and methods of making and using such nanoparticles are described. The nanoparticles can be prepared in a manner in which amine-containing drugs or imaging agents associate with the surface of the nanoparticles to allow delivery of the drugs or agents in vivo, but the association is weak enough to allow the amine-containing drug or imaging agents to be released from the nanoparticle upon reaching its target. Amine passivated gold nanoparticles including targeting molecules which are attached through a thiol linkage can also be prepared and used.

Abstract: A nanocluster includes 1 to 7 metal atoms and has at least one ligand, which is associated with at least one of the metal atoms. A method of making a nanocluster consists of combining a nanoparticle, a ligand and a high boiling point solvent to provide a mixture and heating the mixture at a temperature of at least about 125° C. to form a nanocluster with 1 to 7 metal atoms. An ordered array of nanostructures includes a substrate and a plurality of nanostructures on the substrate, where the nanostructures are made by forming a solution of nanoclusters, depositing the solution on a substrate, and heating the substrate.