Methods for forming nanostructures of various shapes are disclosed. Nanocubes, nanowires, nanopyramids and multiply twinned particles of silver may by formed by combining a solution of silver nitrate in ethylene glycol with a solution of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) in ethylene glycol. Hollow nanostructures may be formed by reacting a solution of solid nanostructures comprising one of a first metal and a first metal alloy with a metal salt that can be reduced by the first metal or first metal alloy. Nanostructures comprising a core with at least one nanoshell may be formed by plating a nanostructure and reacting the plating with a metal salt.

A three-dimensional chiral nanostructure according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: metal nanoparticles having a chiral structure: and a coating layer enclosing the metal nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticle is formed in a polyhedral structure having an R region and an S region in which atoms are arranged clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, in the order of (111), (100), and (110) crystal faces on the basis of the chiral center, wherein at least a portion of the edges form a curve tilting and extending from the R or S region so that the metal nanoparticle has a chiral structure.

A three-dimensional chiral nanostructure according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: metal nanoparticles having a chiral structure: and a coating layer enclosing the metal nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticle is formed in a polyhedral structure having an R region and an S region in which atoms are arranged clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, in the order of (111), (100), and (110) crystal faces on the basis of the chiral center, wherein at least a portion of the edges form a curve tilting and extending from the R or S region so that the metal nanoparticle has a chiral structure.

A particle and a composition including a plurality of particles are provided, wherein the particles are platelets exhibiting a planar geometry which is circular or which is made up of a number (x) of planar (y)-sided polygon(s), wherein x is from 1 to 20 and y is at least 3 wherein if x is greater than 1 then said planar (y)-sided polygons are fused along one or more sides thereof, wherein the width (W.sub.P) of the platelets (P) at their widest point is no more than about 250 pm and the thickness of the platelets (P) is in the range of 10 nm to 50 nm.

A method for synthesis of PtNi smooth surface core/shell particles or Nano cages and porous nanocages from segregated nanoparticles.

A method for synthesis of PtNi smooth surface core/shell particles or Nano cages and porous nanocages from segregated nanoparticles.

The present disclosure provides for metal nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles that have six pointed areas so that the metal nanoparticle resembles a six-pointed star. The distance from opposing points of the six-pointed star is about 400 to 480 nanometers. The present disclosure also provides for a method of making the nanoparticle, where in an aspect, the method is a light-driven synthesis.

Provided herein are methods of preparing tetrahexahedra nanoparticles and methods of using the tetrahexahedra nanoparticles as an oxidative catalyst.

A silver powder includes a large number of particles. The particles include polyhedral particles 2. The ratio P1 of the number of the polyhedral particles 2 to the total number of the particles is equal to or greater than 80%. Each polyhedral particle 2 has a body containing silver as a main component, and a coating layer covering a surface of the body and containing organic matter as a main component. Each polyhedral particle 2 has an aspect ratio of equal to or less than 3.0. The content P2 of the organic matter in the silver powder is preferably equal to or less than 0.5% by weight. The silver powder preferably has a median diameter D50 of equal to or less than 0.5 μm. The silver powder preferably has a tap density TD of equal to or greater than 5.0 g/cm.sup.3.

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.