Light-induced inhibition of chymotrypsin using photocleavable monolayers on gold nanoparticles.

Positively charged gold nanoparticles featuring photocleavable units within their surrounding monolayer are switched from non-interacting species to inhibitors of chymotrypsin through UV irradiation.

Nanoparticles: scaffolds for molecular recognition.

Monolayer and mixed-monolayer protected clusters (MPCs and MMPCs) have great potential to combine molecular functionality with the intrinsic properties of nanometer-sized scaffolds. This synergy can be used to create complex functional devices, including redox-active, electronic, or magnetic storage devices, solution-based sensors, and highly efficient catalysts. This review outlines some of the recent developments in nanoscale receptors based on synthetic and nonbiological recognition elements. In these nanoparticle systems, molecular recognition is achieved by covalent attachment of receptors on the nanoparticles coupled with noncovalent interactions to target substrates. Synthetic host-guest systems, hydrogen bonding, change in redox states, pi-pi stacking, rotaxane formation, and ion recognition are the main topics covered in this review.

Highly reactive heterogeneous Heck and hydrogenation catalysts constructed through 'bottom-up' nanoparticle self-assembly.

Polymer-mediated self-assembly of functionalized Pd and SiO2 nanoparticles provides highly active hydrogenation and Heck coupling catalysts.