Intrinsic fluorescence from individual silver nanoparticles

Optical microscopy and spectroscopy on individual silver nanoparticles reveals strong emission for blue laser excitation. The silver nanoparticles (15 nm in size) are spin-coated on glass. The emitted light shows blinking and spectral fluctuations under continuous excitation. Identical spectral behaviour was observed on oxidised silver powder indicating that the emissive sites are small silver clusters (few atoms) photo-activated by light illumination of the oxide

Biological applications of electromagnetically active nanoparticles

The development of nanoparticles and their use for biological applications is a vivid field of research. Particularly useful, are those bearing physical properties that are driven by electromagnetic fields. These properties can be designed for imaging purposes like in light microscopy applications or magnetic resonance imaging, but also for curative purposes like in drug delivery, photothermal or magnetic hyperthermia therapies. This special issue contains a collection articles about a number of different types of nano-objects, from their chemical synthesis, physical properties to biological applications. This illustrates the great variety of electromagnetically active nanoparticles designed and used nowadays in biological applications. The aim of this special issue is to highlight the exciting developments going on this field