A hard composite composition may comprise a binder and a polymodal blend of matrix powder. The polymodal blend of matrix powder may have at least one first local maxima at a particle size of about 0.5 nm to about 30 m, at least one second local maxima at a particle size of about 200 m to about 10 mm, and at least one local minima between a particle size of about 30 m to about 200 m that has a value that is less than the first local maxima.

A method for synthesizing porous gold nanoparticles is disclosed. The method includes synthesizing gold nanoparticles by reducing HAuCl.sub.4, as well as stabilizing the synthesized gold nanoparticles by mixing a surfactant with the synthesized gold nanoparticles. The method further includes adding an acid solution to the stabilized gold nanoparticles in order to form porous gold nanoparticles, and separating the acid solution and excess reducing agent from the synthesized porous gold nanoparticles. The method provides a more efficient means of obtaining porous gold nanoparticles.

A method for synthesizing porous gold nanoparticles is disclosed. The method includes synthesizing gold nanoparticles by reducing HAuCl.sub.4, as well as stabilizing the synthesized gold nanoparticles by mixing a surfactant with the synthesized gold nanoparticles. The method further includes adding an acid solution to the stabilized gold nanoparticles in order to form porous gold nanoparticles, and separating the acid solution and excess reducing agent from the synthesized porous gold nanoparticles. The method provides a more efficient means of obtaining porous gold nanoparticles.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of treating cancer, such as (but not limited to) metastatic bladder and breast cancer. The disclosed method comprises using two treatment modalities to synergistically treat primary and secondary tumor cells in a subject. The first element of the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a plasmonics-active metal nanoparticle to a subject comprising a primary cancer and a distant metastatic site, wherein the nanoparticle concentrates at the primary cancer. The method further comprises exposing the subject to photon radiation at the site of the primary cancer. The second element of the disclosed method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an immune checkpoint modulator to the subject. The synergistic combination provides a rapid, safe, and effective treatment of local and distant lesions, better than each modality alone.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of treating cancer, such as (but not limited to) metastatic bladder and breast cancer. The disclosed method comprises using two treatment modalities to synergistically treat primary and secondary tumor cells in a subject. The first element of the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a plasmonics-active metal nanoparticle to a subject comprising a primary cancer and a distant metastatic site, wherein the nanoparticle concentrates at the primary cancer. The method further comprises exposing the subject to photon radiation at the site of the primary cancer. The second element of the disclosed method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an immune checkpoint modulator to the subject. The synergistic combination provides a rapid, safe, and effective treatment of local and distant lesions, better than each modality alone.

A method for producing mesoporous platinum nanoparticles without using templating agents is provided. The method involves preparing a solution comprising water, platinum nanoparticle seeds, a platinum salt and a reducing agent, and heating the solution to a temperature between 150? C. and 250? C. at a rate of between 1? C./min and 15? C./min under a pressure of between 5 and 20 atm. The method allows obtaining mesoporous platinum nanoparticles having controlled shape and controlled pore dimensions. The mesoporous platinum nanoparticles are useful as catalysts in chemical precision reactions and for the production of artificial enzymes for diagnostics and nanomedicine applications.

While a water reaction system containing silver ions is irradiated with ultrasonic waves to cause cavitation therein, a reducing agent containing solution, which contains an aldehyde as a reducing agent, is mixed with the water reaction system to deposit silver particles, the solid-liquid separation of which is carried out, and thereafter, the separated silver particles are washed and dried to produce a spherical silver powder which has a closed cavity in each particle thereof.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a metal nano coil which is suitable for mass production and results in a lower manufacturing cost. The method of manufacturing a metal nano coil includes the steps of: forming, with tension applied to a core member composed of nanofiber of a polymer, a metal thin film on a surface of the core member to fabricate a metal-covered nanofiber; reducing the tension of the metal-covered nanofiber; and heating, with the tension reduced, the metal-covered nanofiber to at or above a boiling point or a thermal decomposition temperature of the polymer and at or below the melting point of the metal thin film to vaporize the core member and shrink the metal thin film into a coil form, so that a hollow metal nano coil is produced.

In one aspect, radioactive nanoparticles are described herein. In some embodiments, a radioactive nanoparticle described herein comprises a metal nanoparticle core, an outer metal shell disposed over the metal nanoparticle core, and a metallic radioisotope disposed within the metal nanoparticle core or within the outer metal shell. In some cases, the radioactive nanoparticle has a size of about 30-500 nm in three dimensions. In addition, in some embodiments, the radioactive nanoparticle further comprises an inner metal shell disposed between the metal nanoparticle core and the outer metal shell. The metal nanoparticle core, outer metal shell, and inner metal shell of the radioactive nanoparticle can have various metallic compositions.

The invention is drawn to novel nanostructures comprising hollow nanospheres and nanotubes for use as chemical sensors, conduits for fluids, and electronic conductors. The nanostructures can be used in microfluidic devices, for transporting fluids between devices and structures in analytical devices, for conducting electrical currents between devices and structure in analytical devices, and for conducting electrical currents between biological molecules and electronic devices, such as bio-microchips.