Hollow Nanoparticles with Hybrid Double Layers

Hollow particles have a range of potential applications: encapsulation, catalysis, biomolecular separation, controlling drug release, and sensor technologies/biosensors. Synthesis of such particles often involves multistep operations and complex components, leading to difficulties in scale up to commercially viable quantities. The synthesis of double layer hollow nanoparticles proceeds by a different method, which provides rapid and scalable results. The double layer, made of different materials, can impart different physical characteristics to the interior and the exterior of the hollow center. Particles can be placed inside, resulting in hollow nanoparticles with special properties, such as making them magnetically responsive. The magnetic properties of these nanoparticles can then be used in applications such as drug delivery whereby the drug is magnetically guided to the delivery site. Additionally, these nanoparticles may be used to stabilize emulsions and as catalytic materials.