@article{19024,
  abstract     = {Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs), phase-separating solutions of water soluble but mutually immiscible molecular species, offer fascinating prospects for selective partitioning, purification, and extraction. Here, we formulate a general Brownian dynamics based coarse-grained simulation model for an ATPS of two water soluble but mutually immiscible polymer species. Including additional solute species into the model is straightforward, which enables capturing the assembly and partitioning response of, e.g., nanoparticles (NPs), additional macromolecular species, or impurities in the ATPS. We demonstrate that the simulation model captures satisfactorily the phase separation, partitioning, and interfacial properties of an actual ATPS using a model ATPS in which a polymer mixture of dextran and polyethylene glycol (PEG) phase separates, and magnetic NPs selectively partition into one of the two polymeric phases. Phase separation and NP partitioning are characterized both via the computational model and experimentally, under different conditions. The simulation model captures the trends observed in the experimental system and quantitatively links the partitioning behavior to the component species interactions. Finally, the simulation model reveals that the ATPS interface fluctuations in systems with magnetic NPs as a partitioned species can be controlled by the magnetic field at length scales much smaller than those probed experimentally to date.},
  author       = {Scacchi, Alberto and Rigoni, Carlo and Haataja, Mikko and Timonen, Jaakko V.I. and Sammalkorpi, Maria},
  issn         = {1095-7103},
  journal      = {Journal of Colloid and Interface Science},
  pages        = {1135--1146},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{A coarse-grained model for aqueous two-phase systems: Application to ferrofluids}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.jcis.2025.01.256},
  volume       = {686},
  year         = {2025},
}

@article{18451,
  abstract     = {Inorganic nanoparticles can be assembled into superlattices with unique optical and magnetic properties arising from collective behavior. Protein cages can be utilized to guide this assembly by encapsulating nanoparticles and promoting their assembly into ordered structures. However, creating ordered multi-component structures with different protein cage types and sizes remains a challenge. Here, the co-crystallization of two different protein cages (cowpea chlorotic mottle virus and ferritin) characterized by opposing surface charges and unequal diameter is shown. Precise tuning of the electrostatic attraction between the cages enabled the preparation of binary crystals with dimensions up to several tens of micrometers. Additionally, binary metal nanoparticle superlattices are achieved by loading gold and iron oxide nanoparticles inside the cavities of the protein cages. The resulting structure adopts an AB2FCC configuration that also impacts the dipolar coupling between the particles and hence the optical properties of the crystals, providing key insight for the future preparation of plasmonic and magnetic nanoparticle metamaterials.},
  author       = {Zhou, Yu and Shaukat, Ahmed and Seitsonen, Jani and Rigoni, Carlo and Timonen, Jaakko V.I. and Kostiainen, Mauri A.},
  issn         = {2198-3844},
  journal      = {Advanced Science},
  number       = {45},
  publisher    = {Wiley},
  title        = {{Protein cage directed assembly of binary nanoparticle superlattices}},
  doi          = {10.1002/advs.202408416},
  volume       = {11},
  year         = {2024},
}