This review article describes recent development of preparation of nanoparticles by miniemulsion polymerization, living radical polymerization systems. Nano-scale polymeric particles are successfully prepared by miniemulsion polymerization of hydrophobic vinyl monomers. Reactive polymeric particles with glycidyl groups on the surface are obtained by copolymerization of styrene and glycidyl methacrylate to apply for affinity beads. Living radical polymerization such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and iniferter method are useful synthetic method to obtain nanoparticles with narrow polydispersity. Hybrid nanoparticles containing Au particle are readily prepared by surface-initiated ATRP. These nanoparticles are interesting functional nanomaterials for a variety of application.

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Interfacial electric phenomena in a suspension of soft particles (i.e., particles covered with an ion-penetrable polyelectrolyte layer) are discussed with special emphasis on soft particles in environmental science. Fundamental equations are given which describe the oscillatory motion of soft particles in an applied electric field and in an applied pressure gradient field. Soft particles are shown to serve as a model for humic substances. It is shown that colloid vibration potential will be a key quantity providing information on the electric properties of soft particles.

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Nanomedicine uses nano-sized tools for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease and to gain increased understanding of the complex underlying pathophysiology of disease. The ultimate goal is improved quality of life. Three important areas have been identified as follows, 1) Analytical tools and diagnosis, 2) Imaging techniques from molecules to man, 3) Innovative drug delivery system, therapeutics and systems for tissue regeneration and repair. Since 1970s, liposomes, polymer micelles, antibody conjugates, nanoparticles have already designed for imaging, drug delivery, and polymer therapeutics. On the other hand, evelopments in nanosuspension are distinctly threatening the traditional paradigm in drug discovery, which is predicated on finding druggable compounds. Poor solubility and limited bioavailability are the major reasons that most compounds do not advance to lead status. Changing the rules at this stage results in a major recognition and reconceptualizing of the drug discovery process.

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In this article, two emulsification techniques providing nanoemulsions, which are condensation method and dispersion method, are described. Nanoemulsions by condensation method was prepared by cooling single phase microemulsions to temperature below the solubilization phase boundary. Key process of the second dispersion method was the homogenization of coarse emulsions with water phases containing large amounts of water-soluble solvents by a high-pressure homogenizer. Then the application and function of nanoemulsions for cosmetics are reviewed. An aqueous wax nano-dispersion was prepared through the cooling procedure of microemulsions which was made above the melting temperature of wax. The formula of the dispersion can be used for hair spray and hair mist having a low viscosity. O/W cream containing surfactant and amphiphile also became transparent with a low viscosity by the reduction of emulsion droplet size. This technology can give lotion type cosmetics with an excellent function that can be found in O/W cream.

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Self-assemblies of block copolymers have received considerable attention from both fundamental and applied standpoints. These are formed in selective solvents based on the different solubilities of constitutent segments; for example, hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments in an aqueous medium. Although the assemblies can take various morphologies including spherical micelle, rod and lamellar structures, spherical micelles have been most extensively investigated. Polymeric micelles have deca-nanometric-scaled diameter and are characterized by their unique core-corona structure. This review highlights the physicochemical characterization of the polymeric micelles and their applications as a carrieres in drug delivery systems. Further, novel polymeric micelle formation through electrostatic interaction in aqueous medium is reviewed from the standpoint of their utility as bioreactors, diagnostic tools and non-viral gene vectors.

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