The present technology provides a nanoparticle that includes a silica network comprising crosslinked polysiloxanes, wherein the crosslinks comprise disulfide linkages, and the nanoparticle has a surface bearing charged functional groups and a surface potential of either less than −30 mV or greater than +30 mV, and wherein the nanoparticle has an average diameter of 20 nm to 60 n. The nanoparticles may be used to efficiently deliver biomolecules to plant cells, including polynucleic acids, proteins and complexes thereof (e.g., Cas9 RNP).

The invention relates to a silane or silane mixture obtainable by reacting a hydrolysable silane of the formula (A): SiR4 in which R is a hydrolytically condensable group or hydroxyl with a compound R*(OH)x where x is 1, 2, 3 or greater 3, where R* has a straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon skeleton which, according to the number x, is monovalent, divalent, trivalent or multivalent, and has a hydrocarbonaceous chain interrupted by at least two —C(O)O— groups, wherein there are a maximum of 8 successive carbon atoms in the individual hydrocarbon units formed by interruptions within this chain and the, or in the case of branched structures at least one, end of the hydrocarbonaceous chain at the opposite end to the sole hydroxyl group or one of the hydroxyl groups bears an organically polymerizable group, wherein the alcohol is otherwise unsubstituted or has further substituents. The invention further relates to an organically modified silica polycondensate formed as a result of hydrolytic condensation of the silane or silane mixture and optionally a subsequent organic polymerization of the organically polymerizable groups, with optional addition of an organic, at least difunctional compound to the silica polycondensate prior to the organic polymerization.

The invention relates to a silane or silane mixture obtainable by reacting a hydrolysable silane of the formula (A): SiR4 in which R is a hydrolytically condensable group or hydroxyl with a compound R*(OH)x where x is 1, 2, 3 or greater 3, where R* has a straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon skeleton which, according to the number x, is monovalent, divalent, trivalent or multivalent, and has a hydrocarbonaceous chain interrupted by at least two —C(O)O— groups, wherein there are a maximum of 8 successive carbon atoms in the individual hydrocarbon units formed by interruptions within this chain and the, or in the case of branched structures at least one, end of the hydrocarbonaceous chain at the opposite end to the sole hydroxyl group or one of the hydroxyl groups bears an organically polymerizable group, wherein the alcohol is otherwise unsubstituted or has further substituents. The invention further relates to an organically modified silica polycondensate formed as a result of hydrolytic condensation of the silane or silane mixture and optionally a subsequent organic polymerization of the organically polymerizable groups, with optional addition of an organic, at least difunctional compound to the silica polycondensate prior to the organic polymerization.

A method of fabricating an artifact (15) includes treating natural fibers (110) with a non-halogenated flame retardant agent (120), the fibers (110) also being treated with a smoke suppressant (120). At least one pre-preg is formed (170, 180) from the treated natural fibers and from a resin composition (160) including a smoke suppressant (150) admixed therein (160). An uncured artifact is formed from a core or substrate (12) and the pre-preg, which provides a skin, and is cured (210). A non-fibrous silicate fire resistant material (190, 230) is introduced by: (i) admixing the fire resistant material with the resin composition, and/or (ii) applying the fire resistant material to an outer surface of the pre-preg or an outer surface of the skin of the uncured artifact, and/or (iii) applying the fire resistant material to an outer surface of the skin of the cured artifact. The invention extends to a flame-proofed artifact (15).

A composition containing 2-propylheptyl silicate is obtained by heating ethyl silicate with an amount of 2-propylheptanol used in excess in the presence of titanium tetrabutoxide as catalyst to a temperature of not more than 220° C. while mixing, allowing them to react and, after the reaction, removing ethanol and excess 2-propylheptanol from the reaction mixture by distillation and obtaining the product, to obtain the composition comprising 2-propylheptyl silicate.

A quantum dot including a semiconductor crystal particle having a particle diameter of 20 nm or less, and a ligand having two or more functional groups for interaction with the semiconductor crystal particle coordinates to two or more sites on a surface of the semiconductor crystal particle. A quantum dot with enhanced stability through surface modification on the semiconductor crystal particle by using a ligand which has two or more functional groups for interaction with the semiconductor crystal particle, and which coordinates to two or more sites on the semiconductor particle surface.

The present invention provides curable compositions comprising non-tin metal accelerators that accelerate the condensation curing of moisture-curable silicones/non-silicones. In particular, the present invention provides an accelerator comprising metal-arene complexes that are suitable as replacements for organotin in sealant and RTV formulations.

The present disclosure provides a method for dispersing graphene. The method includes the following steps: providing a graphene material and a graphene dispersant, wherein the graphene dispersant comprises aniline oligomer or aniline oligomer derivative, the aniline oligomer or aniline oligomer derivative is an electroactive polymer, and the aniline oligomer or aniline oligomer derivative is able to combine with the graphene material via π-π bond; and adding the graphene material and the graphene dispersant to a dispersing medium, making the aniline oligomer or aniline oligomer derivative combine with the graphene material via π-π bond, and dispersing the graphene material in the dispersing medium by the graphene dispersant.

Provided are: silica-coated particles which have satisfactory dispersibility in resins and liquid materials, have functional groups capable of reacting with resins, and also has satisfactory slipperiness as well as water repellency; and a method for producing the silica-coated particles. Silica-coated particles, in which the surface of each of solid particles (A) is coated with silica (B), a part or the whole of a hydroxyl group on the surface of the silica (B) is reacted with at least one component (C) selected from an organoalkoxysilane and a hydrolysate thereof and an organosilazane, wherein the amount of the silica (B) is 0.5 to 100 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the solid particles (A).

A mixed composition containing an organosilicon compound (A) and a silicon compound (B), wherein the organosilicon compound (A) is an organosilicon compound in which at least one trialkylsilyl group-containing molecular chain and at least one hydrolyzable group are bonded to a silicon atom, the silicon compound (B) is one or more silicon compounds selected from the group consisting of a silicon compound (b) represented by the following formula (b) and a condensate (bb) thereof, and in a chromatogram obtained by GPC chromatography of the mixed composition, a weight average molecular weight Mw in terms of standard polystyrene of a compound derived from at least one of the organosilicon compound (A) and the silicon compound (B) is 2000 to 12000,

Si(X).sub.p(OR.sup.b).sub.4−p  (b) wherein X is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom, R.sup.b is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and p is an integer of 0 to 3.