Radiation Assisted Modifications and Processing of Colloidal and Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications

Given the continuous advancements in colloidal materials synthesis, properties, and functions, there is the need for innovative strategies to fabricate new functional devices that can exploit such materials for applications in devices in the field of biotechnology and medicine. Examples of materials that can lead to a performance improvement include sol-gels, microporous and mesoporous materials, hierarchical structures, nanoparticles, MOFs. In this context, the integration of novel materials prepared with bottom-up approaches (like self - assembly), with micro/nanofabrication techniques for top-down processing is an important objective.

Many micro and nanofabrication techniques are based on controlled irradiation of materials with or without a mask (UV, X-rays, electron, focused ion beam lithography and laser writing just to cite some). Investigating the possibilities offered by both traditionally and unconventionally employed irradiation techniques to change and tune the properties of colloid materials in a controlled and spatially defined way will help in designing and fabricating new functional integrated components having specific functionalities in selected areas of devices like DNA arrays, lab on a chip, sensors and drug delivery.

This Research Topic aims at collecting Original Research or Reviews on the development and application of colloidal materials and nanostructures synthesized, modified or patterned through radiation techniques. Areas of interest could include but are not limited to:

• Changing and/or tuning of properties/functionalities in colloidal materials/nanostructures by means of controlled irradiation (i.e porosity, nanoparticles size distribution, surface charges, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity).

• Combination of bottom-up and top-down processes based on conventional or novel radiation techniques for synthesis and/or patterning of colloidal materials/nanostructures like micro/mesoporous materials, sol-gels, nanoparticles.

• Bio micro/nanodevices or components presenting colloidal materials/nanostructures with selected functionalities in micro/nano areas obtained by irradiation.

Keywords: controlled irradiation, top-down, bottom-up, patterning, functional materials, lab on a chip

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.