This volume contains selected papers presented at the 42nd Biennial Meeting of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft held at the RWTH Aachen University September 26-28, 2005. The contributions in this volume represent the diversity of research topics in colloid and polymer science. They include the investigation of synthesis and properties of advanced temperature sensitive particles and their biomedical applications, drug delivery systems, foams, capsules, vesicles and gels, polyelectrolytes, nanoparticles surfactants and hybrid materials.

This volume contains selected papers presented at the 42nd Biennial Meeting of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft held at the RWTH Aachen University September 26-28, 2005. The contributions in this volume represent the diversity of research topics in colloid and polymer science. They include the investigation of synthesis and properties of advanced temperature sensitive particles and their biomedical applications, drug delivery systems, foams, capsules, vesicles and gels, polyelectrolytes, nanoparticles surfactants and hybrid materials.

Organic Materials as Smart Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery presents the latest developments in the area of organic frameworks used in pharmaceutical nanotechnology. An up-to-date overview of organic smart nanocarriers is explored, along with the different types of nanocarriers, including polymeric micelles, cyclodextrins, hydrogels, lipid nanoparticles and nanoemlusions. Written by a diverse range of international academics, this book is a valuable reference for researchers in biomaterials, the pharmaceutical industry, and those who want to learn more about the current applications of organic smart nanocarriers. - Explores the most recent molecular- and structure-based applications of organic smart nanocarriers in drug delivery - Highlights different smart nanocarriers and assesses their intricate organic structural properties for improving drug delivery - Assesses how molecular organic frameworks lead to more effective drug delivery systems

This volume of Progress in Colloid and Polymer Science assembles original contributions and invited reviews from the priority research program "Intelligent Hydrogels", funded by the German Science Foundation DFG since 2006, with about 25 contributing research groups. In the center of interest of this program and the present book are responsive hydrogels, i.e. hydrophilic polymer or polyelectrolyte networks that are able to respond to environmental stimuli such as changes in temperature, pH, additive concentration or electrical field. The activities focus on different aspects: on hydrogel synthesis, on the modeling and simulation of thermophysical hydrogel properties, as well as on innovative new hydrogel applications as smart materials. The present book summarizes the highlights in the results of the priority program in original contributions and invited reviews.

During the past 100 years, a large number of new materials have been developed, which provide us with various tools, wares, clothes, etc. with good properties but low weight and low cost. Recently, smart soft materials that can respond to an external stimulus (such as an electric field, magnetic field, sound, light, temperature, pH, and so on) as well as functional soft materials that are electronically, magnetically, or thermally conductive have attracted considerable attention. They have application potentials in various fields. To some extent, they are the way to fulfill most of the "black technology" described in the world of science fiction. This book introduces several smart soft materials and functional soft materials, which are of interest to scholars in related fields.

Smart materials are of significant interest and this is the first textbook to provide a comprehensive graduate level view of topics that relate to this field. Fundamentals of Smart Materials consists of a workbook and solutions manual covering the basics of different functional material systems aimed at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students. Topics include piezoelectric materials, magnetostrictive materials, shape memory alloys, mechanochromic materials, thermochromic materials, chemomechanical polymers and self-healing materials. Each chapter provides an introduction to the material, its applications and uses with example problems, fabrication and manufacturing techniques, conclusions, homework problems and a bibliography. Edited by a leading researcher in smart materials, the textbook can be adopted by teachers in materials science and engineering, chemistry, physics and chemical engineering.

Hydrogels, as three-dimensional polymer networks, are able to retain a large amount of water in their swollen state. The biomedical application of hydrogels was initially hampered by the toxicity of cross-linking agents and the limitations of hydrogel formation under physiological conditions. However, emerging knowledge in polymer chemistry and an increased understanding of biological processes have resulted in the design of versatile materials and minimally invasive therapies.The novel but challenging properties of hydrogels are attracting the attention of researchers in the biological, medical, and pharmaceutical fields. In the last few years, new methods have been developed for the preparation of hydrophilic polymers and hydrogels, which may be used in future biomedical and drug delivery applications. Such efforts include the synthesis of self-organized nanostructures based on triblock copolymers with applications in controlled drug delivery. These hydrogels could be used as carriers for drug delivery when combined with the techniques of drug imprinting and subsequent release. Engineered protein hydrogels have many potential advantages. They are excellent biomaterials and biodegradables. Furthermore, they could encapsulate drugs and be used in injectable forms to replace surgery, to repair damaged cartilage, in regenerative medicine, or in tissue engineering. Also, they have potential applications in gene therapy, although this field is relatively new.

The work here developed new materials and fabrication methodologies to control IR light propagation. 1. We were to develop new syntheses for monodisperse polystyrene, silica, and PMMA colloids; 2. Develop synthetic methods to produce colloidal particles containing quantum dots of CdS, CdTe, etc; 3. Develop IR diffracting polymerized crystalline colloidal arrays (PCCA); 4. Develop methods to fabricate PCCA which diffract light in defined wavelengths and bandwidths; 5. Fabricate PCCA which are thermally and chemically tunable in the 1 - 10 micrometers spectral region; 6. Demonstrate thermal tuning and electronic control of PCCA diffraction; 7. Develop synthesis of highly charged, monodisperse titania dioxide colloids; 8. Fabricate and characterize photonic bandgap crystals.

Smart materials have been categorized employing taxonomical methods used in classification of cybernetics systems. This approach has allowed the systematization of the variety of smart materials (both developed and conceptualized) as well to substantiate the three-stage process of the materials' making. This book proposes a phenomenological model d

Smart materials stimulated by chemical or by logical signals hold promise for many applications, including new sensors and actuators for medicine, environmental and process control. In contrast to other books on responsive materials which are restricted to sensing, this volume not only highlights fundamental chemical and physical principles but also focuses on the use of smart materials for applications such as drug delivery, wound healing, cell adhesion, tuneable vesicles, surface control, smart paints and glasses, separations, oil recovery and artificial muscles. In this completely updated and expanded edition, readers are introduced to the area with chapters reflecting the enormous expansion of the field in recent years. Different responsive material systems will be covered including hydrogels, membranes, thin layers, polymer brushes, chemomechanical and imprinted polymers, nanomaterials and silica particles. With contributions from internationally recognised experts, the book will appeal to graduate students and researchers in academia, healthcare and industry interested in functional materials and their applications.