The sheer volume of topics which could have been included under our general title prompted us to make some rather arbitrary decisions about content. Modification by irradiation is not included because the activity in this area is being treated elsewhere. We have chosen to emphasize chemical routes to modification and have striven to pre sent as balanced a representation of current activity as time and page count permit. Industrial applications, both real and potential, are included. Where appropriate, we have encouraged the contributors to include review material to help provide the reader with adequate context. The initial chapter is a review from a historical perspective of polymer modification and contains an extensive bibliography. The remainder of the book is divided into four general areas: Reactions and Preparation of Copolymers Reactions and Preparation of Block and Graft Copolymers Modification Through Condensation Reactions Applications The chemical modification of homopolymers such as polyvinylchlo ride, polyethylene, poly(chloroalkylene sulfides), polysulfones, poly chloromethylstyrene, polyisobutylene, polysodium acrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloroformate, sulfonated polystyrene; block and graft copolymers such as poly(styrene-block-ethylene-co-butylene block-styrene), poly(I,4-polybutadiene-block ethylene oxide), star chlorine-telechelic polyisobutylene, poly(isobutylene-co-2,3-dimethyl- 1,3-butadiene), poly(styrene-co-N-butylmethacrylate); cellulose, dex tran and inulin, is described.

Polymers are one of the most versatile and important materials used for capsule preparation despite various others available. Suitably formulated capsules can securely protect ingredients, deliver them to targeted sites, and release them expeditiously, improving functions and minimizing adverse effects. New polymers are constantly being explored to develop more efficient capsules as they are routinely used in pharmaceuticals, consumer healthcare products, nutrients, and food. This book focuses on the current state of the art of polymer-based capsules and delivery systems. It describes the formulation processes of capsules developed from redox-responsive polymers and polymer-functionalized carbon nanotubes, in addition to shedding light on coacervation of polymers for encapsulation. It reviews different active ingredients that can be used with polymer capsules in various products, encapsulation of essential oils using such capsules, and development of polymer capsules of cells and bacteriophages.

This practical book is part of the new Artech House Methods in Bioengineering series - volumes designed to offer detailed guidance on authoritative methods for addressing specific bioengineering challenges. This volume is focused on the materials involved with nanoscale bioengineering. Nanomaterials are quickly moving into the mainstream as a critical component of biological research. Filling a critical gap in the current literature, this new resource presents practical, step-by-step methods to help professionals synthesize, characterize, functionalize and apply the nanomaterial that is most suitable for handling a given nanoscale bioengineering problem. Written and presented by the best scientists and engineers in their respective fields, the authors offer a clear and detailed understanding of how to carry out a wide range of important methods in this area.

This book is devoted to the engineering of protein-based nanostructures and nanomaterials. One key challenge in nanobiotechnology is to be able to exploit the natural repertoire of protein structures and functions to build materials with defined properties at the nanoscale using “bottom-up” strategies. This book addresses in an integrated manner all the critical aspects that need to be understood and considered to design the next generation of nano-bio assemblies. The book covers first the fundamentals of the design and features of the protein building blocks and their self-assembly illustrating some of the most relevant examples of nanostructural design. Finally, the book contains a section dedicated to demonstrated applications of these novel bioinspired nanostructures in different fields from hybrid nanomaterials to regenerative medicine. This book provides a comprehensive updated review of this rapidly evolving field.

Natural polymers, such as proteins, starch, cellulose, hevea rubber, and gum which have been available for centuries, have been applied as materials for food, leather, sizings, fibers, structures, waterproofing, and coatings. During the past century, the use of both natural and syn thetic polymers has been expanded to include more intricate applications, such as membranes, foams, medicinals, conductors, insulators, fibers, films, packaging and applications requiring high modulus at elevated temperatures. The topics in this symposium which are summarized in this book are illustrative of some of the myriad applications of these ubiquitous mater ials. As stated in forecast in the last chapter in this book, it is cer tain that revolutionary applications of polymers will occur during the next decades. Hopefully, information presented in other chapters in this book will catalyze some of these anticipated applications. It is appropriate that these reports were presented at an American Chemical Society Polymer Science and Engineering Division Award Symposium honoring Dr. O.A. Battista who has gratifying to note that Phillips Pet roleum Company, which has paved the way in applications of many new poly mers, is the sponsor of this important award. We are all cheerfully expressing our thanks to this corporate spon sor and to Distinguished Professor Raymond B. Seymour of the University of Southern Mississippi who served as the organizer of this symposium and editor of this important book.

Following an introduction to biogenic metal nanoparticles, this book presents how they can be biosynthesized using bacteria, fungi and yeast, as well as their potential applications in biomedicine. It is shown that the synthesis of nanoparticles using microbes is eco-friendly and results in reproducible metal nanoparticles of well-defined sizes, shapes and structures. This biotechnological approach based on the process of biomineralization exploits the effectiveness and flexibility of biological systems. Chapters include practical protocols for microbial synthesis of nanoparticles and microbial screening methods for isolating a specific nanoparticle producer as well as reviews on process optimization, industrial scale production, biomolecule-nanoparticle interactions, magnetosomes, silver nanoparticles and their numerous applications in medicine, and the application of gold nanoparticles in developing sensitive biosensors.